“Xie Changgeng, what are you doing coming here still?”
“Were it not for the sake of my late father, I would absolutely never have permitted you to set foot in my Changsha again — not so much as a single step!”
The echoes of Mu Xuanqing’s voice seemed to reverberate up through the lofty and vast vaulted ceiling of the ancestral shrine.
Xie Changgeng’s expression was untroubled. He offered the formal salute of an outer official before a prince, and when the rite was done, said, “Your Highness stated the outcome but did not state the reason. Would you be willing to tell me what this is about?”
The two shafts of Mu Xuanqing’s gaze were like arrows laced with fury, driving toward Xie Changgeng on the other side.
“You were once a great bandit. On that day, our father disregarded your background and looked upon you with favor, betrothing our royal sister to you. My Changsha honored the agreement and, early this year, sent the Princess far away to be married. To say nothing of how she crossed mountains and rivers to marry you in that pestilent Kuizhou of yours, with you gone and leaving her alone on the wedding night itself. After she entered your Xie household, she waited upon the elders, managed the household affairs, and showed compassion to the servants below. Was there ever the slightest lapse in her conduct? Did she ever utter a single word of complaint?”
“In what way did my royal sister err? She had not even been within your Xie household for half a year before she was subjected to such humiliation! And just what manner of household is this Xie Family of yours, that it dares to treat the Princess of Changsha with such contempt?”
Mu Xuanqing clenched both fists until the tendons on the backs of his hands stood out in a criss-cross of raised ridges.
“Xie Changgeng!”
He spat out the name of the man facing him through gritted teeth, his tone one of utmost revulsion.
“What does it mean to be a beast dressed in fine garments, with the heart of a hawk and the face of a crane? It is precisely such a shameless wretch as you!”
“You schemed with exhaustive calculation, plumbing the depths of vileness! Three years ago, when you came to Changsha seeking marriage, your one aim was to attach yourself to our family’s power. Had it not been for our father being deceived by you and lending you his support, how could you have entered officialdom and attained your meteoric rise?”
“You ungrateful, wolfish wretch! Treating our royal sister with such contempt — do you perhaps believe there is no one of worth left in Changsha?”
“Lord Military Commissioner Xie, your authority and position may be lofty and without rival today, and my Changsha may be no more than a small and insignificant principality — but how heroic and upright were the ancestors of our Mu clan! Their descendants, such as I, however lacking in ability, will absolutely not sit by and allow our royal sister to be so shamed and humiliated by you!”
“You have come to pay your respects at the late Prince’s shrine, and I will not obstruct you. Now that you have finished your respects, you may please yourself as you like! My Changsha’s temple is too small for a great Buddha such as yourself!”
He paused, and flung a document to the ground.
“Hear me well: from this day forward, my Mu clan and your Xie Family have not so much as a half-portion of connection between us! My royal sister likewise has no further bond with you! As man and woman, each go their separate ways!”
He finished speaking, turned, and swept out of the hall in a fury.
“One moment!”
Xie Changgeng, who had remained silent throughout, suddenly spoke.
Mu Xuanqing stopped in his tracks, but did not turn around.
Xie Changgeng did not glance at the object on the ground. He walked to the side, bypassing it.
“Your Highness’s meaning is clear to me. Every word of Your Highness’s rebuke is entirely justified, and it is not my intention to offer any defense — nor is there any defense to offer. However, there is a misunderstanding in the middle of all this, and if I do not explain it, and things end here with bad feeling between us, I fear it would be a disservice to the lesson my late father-in-law imparted to me at the time of the marriage arrangement.”
Mu Xuanqing slowly turned his face, staring at him coldly.
“I will be candid — the moment I returned, I set out here immediately, and not only to pay my respects to the Mu clan ancestors and the late Prince of Changsha: I have also come to bring the Princess home…”
“Bring her back for what purpose?” Mu Xuanqing erupted with rage.
“Is it that the humiliation she suffered was not enough for you?”
Xie Changgeng’s expression was composed.
“If my understanding is correct, Your Highness’s fury stems from my mother having spoken of taking a concubine in the Princess’s presence. But Your Highness knows only part of the story, not the whole. It is precisely because of this misunderstanding that I must explain.”
Mu Xuanqing gave a cold laugh without responding.
“When I returned home last month, I learned that the Princess had already come back to Changsha. By the account of the servants in the household, throughout these past half-year or more, the Princess condescended to attend upon my mother morning and evening in my stead, and moreover displayed the virtuous and composed bearing of a woman raised in a distinguished family — all the neighbors, near and far, spoke of nothing but her praise. Her return home, though somewhat sudden, surely had its understandable reasons.”
“The root of the matter lies with my mother. In my early years, I was unfilial, and made my mother endure much hardship and wandering. During a time of great difficulty, she received a great kindness from someone. Now that person’s parents have both passed away and circumstances are difficult — my mother, too mindful of old feelings and not thinking things through, rashly mentioned in the Princess’s presence the idea of bringing that woman here to the household. According to my mother, the Princess agreed to it on the spot.”
Xie Changgeng paused.
“My mother cannot read, is confined to the inner quarters of the house, and has had little experience of the world — and her character is straightforward and direct. When she saw the Princess agree, she was so filled with joy and gratitude at the Princess’s generosity and magnanimity that she never stopped to consider whether what she was doing was proper.”
“The day I returned home, it was from my mother’s own mouth that I learned of this matter. This is not me pleading on my own behalf — at the time, I felt immediately that something was not right. But not wishing to dampen my mother’s happiness, and having heard that the Princess had already generously consented, I thought to first bring the Princess home and discuss the matter further afterward.”
“This affair has provoked Your Highness’s fury, and the fault lies with me. To be blessed with such a wife is already my good fortune — to say nothing of the debt of recognition and patronage I owe my late father-in-law, of which I have yet to repay even one ten-thousandth?”
“Your Highness may rest assured. As for what should be done going forward, I know my own mind. Once I have brought the Princess home, I will personally have my mother apologize to her.”
He looked steadily at Mu Xuanqing, his expression open and unguarded.
Mu Xuanqing said, word by word, “Xie Changgeng, you are not a worthy match for my royal sister! Since my royal sister has returned of her own accord, no matter how honeyed your words may be today, do not imagine I will allow her to follow you back into the Xie household!”
“Your Highness, those words I cannot understand. Marriage is the good joining of two families — it is not a trifling matter.”
He swept his gaze around the Mu family shrine, and his eyes came to rest on the memorial tablet of the late Prince of Changsha.
“Regardless of how Your Highness regards me, the marriage between myself and your honored sister was arranged by my late father-in-law himself, with all three matchmakers and six witnesses properly in place. To sever it at will like this would be to treat the matter as trivial. My mother was indeed at fault — she gave offense to the Princess — yet her error amounted only to an improper use of words; she did not commit any outrageous act. No one is a sage. Who is without fault? She is but a simple village woman. Your Highness presses so relentlessly — isn’t that somewhat unreasonable?”
A smile still lingered on his face, but his tone had taken on a slightly heavier quality, with a latent undercurrent of authority.
Mu Xuanqing’s expression became incredibly rigid. His gaze fixed on the figure in blue robes standing opposite him with cool, composed dignity. After a long moment, he ground out through clenched teeth, “Xie Changgeng! Setting aside the fact that you shamelessly flatter and ingratiate yourself for advancement, you even collude with others in treachery! You curry favor with…”
“Your Royal Highness!”
At that very moment, a woman’s voice from outside the shrine cut off Mu Xuanqing’s words.
Xie Changgeng looked up.
Outside the shrine, on the stone steps, standing there at some unknown time, was a young woman dressed in magnificent robes. Her features were graceful and her bearing dignified and magnanimous — it was none other than the Princess Consort of Changsha, Lu Shi.
Lu Shi had arrived in time to stop her husband from speaking further in his towering rage. She stepped forward, gave her husband a meaningful glance, then crossed the threshold of the shrine, came to stand before Xie Changgeng, and said with a smile, “The Military Commissioner has come from afar, and my Changsha has been remiss in our courtesies. If there has been any offense, I hope you will be kind enough to forgive us.”
Xie Changgeng gave a slight smile and paid his respects to Lu Shi.
“To have the honor of meeting the Princess Consort of Changsha in person is already the greatest privilege I could ask for. How could there be any question of offense?”
Lu Shi returned a half-bow.
“For the Military Commissioner to show such magnanimity fills me with admiration. Having traveled far through dust and wind, you must be weary — please go to the guest lodge for now and rest. Our Prince will host a banquet this evening in the manor to welcome the Military Commissioner.”
“As for the matter of the royal sister…”
She paused.
“Please allow us some time to discuss it further. I wonder if that arrangement would be agreeable to the Military Commissioner?”
Xie Changgeng smiled. “Many thanks. Then I will be imposing on your hospitality.”
He composed the smile on his face, and his expression became solemn once more. He turned, and beneath the two dark and brooding gazes from Mu Xuanqing boring into his back, paid a final respectful bow before the memorial tablet of the late Prince of Changsha. When the kneeling rite was complete and he rose to his feet, he stepped out across the threshold of the shrine without hesitation and strode away with long steps.
……
Lu Shi returned to the royal manor and, without even having time to remove her formal attire, hurried at once to Mu Fulan’s inner chamber. She dismissed all attendants and closed the door.
“Lan’er, it was fortunate that I listened to you and arrived at the ancestral shrine in time — otherwise, it would have been too late to stop your royal brother from saying something rash in his fit of fury. His temper is still far too impetuous! If Xie Changgeng had heard him speaking disrespectfully about Empress Liu, and reported it to that treacherous Empress, the situation of our Changsha in the days to come would be buried even deeper in snow and misfortune.”
Mu Fulan said nothing.
“This Xie Changgeng — three years ago, when he came to propose, I only caught a glimpse of him from afar. At the time, I merely thought he had a heroic bearing entirely unlike ordinary men. Today, meeting him face to face, I begin to understand how a man so young managed to become a Military Commissioner of an entire region. He ought to be the same age as your royal brother, yet when it comes to depth of mind and cunning calculation, your royal brother is not even close to being in the same league.”
Her brow furrowed in deep concern.
“From what I could tell by his words, he is unwilling to let you come home. You are already a married woman, and what he said was airtight and watertight — he completely detached himself from any responsibility in the matter of the concubine. If he absolutely refuses to relent and continues to press, it may be difficult to fulfill your wish quickly.”
Mu Fulan said, “Sister-in-law, after the evening banquet is over, let him come to me.”
Lu Shi said urgently, “Lan’er, don’t misunderstand. Since your sister-in-law promised to help you, I will not go back on my word. What I mean is only that this person is not easy to deal with — I am telling you to be on your guard, so that if things cannot be resolved quickly, you won’t be left feeling too disappointed. Don’t worry — even if he refuses to agree, you are already back here. So long as your royal brother holds the improper conduct of the Xie Family in the matter of the concubine over his head and refuses to release you, this is Changsha — would he dare to abduct you by force?”
“Xie Changgeng is indeed not easy to deal with — which is precisely why it is not a good thing for my royal brother, and for Changsha, if this drags on.”
“This matter was set in motion by me — it is between him and me. No matter how much my brother and sister-in-law say to him, it would be like scratching an itch through the boot — reaching nothing real. It would be better if I settle things with him clearly myself, and put an end to it as early as possible.”
Lu Shi was taken aback.
“Lan’er, this Xie Changgeng is truly not someone who is easy to handle… your sister-in-law is afraid you won’t be able to manage him…”
“Sister-in-law, do not worry!”
“He and I are, after all, husband and wife. Making things clear between us is also necessary. Whether or not things go as I hope, I must at least try.”
Lu Shi looked at her young sister-in-law.
Her gaze was clear and bright, and she looked back at Lu Shi with a smile.
Lu Shi hesitated a moment, then finally nodded. “Very well then. In that case, I’ll go speak to your royal brother. If there is anything to say, tell him to his face directly yourself. If he can hear it and accept it, that would be the best possible outcome.”
Mu Fulan smiled. “Thank you, Sister-in-law!”
……
As night fell, in the banquet hall of Changsha’s royal manor, an evening feast in the guest’s honor was underway.
Enormous candles, the thickness of a child’s arm, were lined up along the east and west wings of the hall — like two great dragons of fire, pouring out brilliance, illuminating the entire hall as brightly as the light of day. Under the left and right eaves before the hall, musical instruments hung suspended. Against the southern pillars inside the hall, great ceremonial bells and drums were installed. Before the enormous candles, a spread of blue-jade tables bore gilded goblets and wine vessels that gleamed and sparkled in the firelight.
Every arrangement fell only one rank short of imperial standards.
Such magnificence and grandeur could only be found in the households of princes and nobles.
Before the seat of honor facing east, a bronze turtle stood to the left and a bronze crane to the right, from the mouths of both of which drifted curling wisps of dragon-musk incense smoke.
Mu Xuanqing sat here.
Hexi Military Commissioner Xie Changgeng sat in the principal guest’s seat.
The high and low officials of Changsha who had come to keep the guest company each took their seats in order of rank and precedence.
The front hall of the royal manor blazed with lights and resonated with drumbeat and music tonight. The rear courtyard, however, was a place of complete stillness and quiet.
The night’s shadows swallowed the flowers and trees whole; the eaves cast their shadow like strokes of a brush. A scattering of lanterns breathed out their dim amber light, illuminating the winding, deep path that led to the royal Princess’s private chambers.
All was utterly quiet all around; not the faintest sound could be heard.
Mu Fulan had her eyes tightly shut, her body completely submerged in the hot water.
It was as though countless gentle hands were competing to soothe her, their warmth seeping into every pore of her body, comforting her curled-up form.
At last, she slowly stretched out her limbs and released every trace of tension.
She opened her eyes, rose from the hot water, holding the bathing tub for support as she climbed out, dried herself off, wrapped herself in a garment, stepped forward, walked to the door, and lifted the door latch.
There was only Nanny Mu in the room.
She had been waiting just outside the bathing room door, her brow tightly knit, her gaze filled with worried care. When she saw Mu Fulan finally emerge, she hurried forward and reached out to support her arm.
“Princess, you…”
“I am fine.”
Mu Fulan stood steadily in place and gave her a smile.
“Have the maids come in and help me change my clothes.”
Nanny Mu pressed down the worry in her heart, looked at her for a moment, turned, and opened the door to call the waiting maids inside.
The maids entered and gathered around her to help her change her clothes.
Once the changing was done, Mu Fulan did not rise from her seat; she remained before the bronze mirror, gazing at her own reflection, her figure still for a long while.
She seemed to have fallen into a reverie, her expression cool and detached.
The maids were ordinarily quite close to her, but at this moment, every one of them stood to the side and did not dare to make a sound.
After a long time, from the corridor outside the door, there came a sudden sound of hurried footsteps.
The door was pushed open, and Danzhu stepped inside.
Nanny Mu went out quickly.
Danzhu murmured something. Nanny Mu came back into the inner chamber, returned to stand behind Mu Fulan, leaned down close, and with her lips near her ear, said in a quiet voice, “The evening banquet is over. He ought to be coming soon.”
The night breeze followed the door, passed through a length of light silk curtain hanging down from a partition, and drifted in without a sound.
Mu Fulan turned her face, her gaze landing on the cluster of candlelight swaying and flickering near her in the wind, and said, “I understand. All of you, go out.”