As spring drew to a close, the elm and locust trees throughout Chang’an were cloaked in green, releasing a fresh herbal fragrance in the midday sun.
On the wide, straight, and somewhat empty main street, seven or eight horses galloped swiftly. Atop them rode a group of finely dressed young men and women, their faces beaming with excitement as they left a trail of laughter and cheer in their wake.
Leading the pack was a chestnut stallion. Its rider wore a round-collared robe of deep red embroidered with golden flowers and black leather boots. Despite the masculine attire, the curves on horseback and the delicate features indicated this was no young lord, but a lady. Her hair was styled in a simple feminine bun rather than the traditional headgear and veil. This unconventional ensemble, when worn by her, exuded a unique charm that blended grace and allure, captivating all who beheld her.
Behind her rode two other ladies, though they wore women’s dresses. Their only departure from convention was the absence of veils to conceal their faces. The rest were young men, all around eighteen or nineteen years old. Only the leading lady appeared slightly older, in her early twenties.
The group rode through several wards, with the streets growing busier and noisier. Soon they reached the gates of the Western Market. They slowed their horses as they entered, passing by a group of foreign merchants with camels and fragrant carriages.
The Eastern and Western Markets were the busiest places in Chang’an. In the afternoon, shops opened their doors to a steady stream of merchants and customers. The Western Market, in particular, was a hub for foreign traders. It was common to see large-bearded men with high noses and deep-set eyes in exotic attire, slender women with fair skin wearing foreign headdresses, and tall, dark-skinned men.
A cacophony of languages mingled with the cries of vendors, the clamor of the crowd, and the clatter of horses and carriages, adding to the market’s chaotic atmosphere. Upon arrival, the young group headed straight for a large mansion with white walls, black tiles, and red pillars. Servants came out to take their horses and lead them inside, clearly familiar with these noble youths.
This was the largest entertainment house in the Western Market, boasting numerous talented musicians, especially pipa players, as well as many graceful dancers and courtesans. New performances were arranged each month, making it a favorite leisure spot for Chang’an’s elite.
The young men and women crowded around their leader as they noisily entered the mansion, ascending to an exquisite two-story pavilion. The upper floor was open on all sides, with only gauze curtains and bamboo blinds for privacy. Intricate carpets covered the floor, and numerous embroidered cushions, low couches, and small tables were arranged about the room.
The group found their usual spots with practiced ease. The lady in the red robe sprawled casually on a low couch, crossing one leg as she gestured to the surrounding curtains and blinds.
“It’s too stuffy. Roll them all up,” she commanded.
Though summer had not yet arrived, their gallop under the sun had left them sweating. The servants immediately began rolling up the blinds, allowing the cool breeze to enter. Other servants brought various fresh fruits and drinks, setting them before the group.
“Are the ladies ready?” someone asked.
A servant replied, “They were tired from rehearsing yesterday, so they’re running a bit late today. Miss Cai will be here shortly.”
No sooner had he spoken than several graceful women appeared, carrying instruments like the pipa. The lead woman, Miss Cai, was not particularly beautiful, but she had a warm demeanor. She smiled at the group as she took her seat on a cushion.
With a delicate pluck of the strings, a clear note rang out. Miss Cai looked at the lady in the red robe at the head of the group and said, “What would Lady Wu Er like to hear? I’ll play something to set the mood while my sisters finish preparing.”
Lady Wu Er took a sip of sweet cane juice and replied with a smile, “Anything you play sounds wonderful, Miss Cai. Feel free to choose.”
Miss Cai lowered her head and began to play. By the time she finished her pipa piece, several beautiful women had arrived upstairs. Soon, the pavilion was filled with the sounds of dance and music, creating a lively atmosphere.
This group of young nobles, led by Lady Wu Er, was a well-known bunch of privileged youth in Chang’an, widely regarded as prodigal. Among them, Lady Wu Er, whose given name was Wu Zhen, was the most unconventional and held the most prestigious status.
Her father was the Duke of Yu, and her only sister was the current Empress. Empress Wu doted excessively on her younger sister, which shaped Wu Zhen’s character. At twenty-six, she remained unmarried, spending her days with friends, either whiling away time in entertainment houses and brothels or leading boisterous hunting parties outside the city. She showed no awareness of proper ladylike behavior. Her reputation rang out not just in noble circles, but among all of Chang’an’s commoners—though not for good reasons.
Wu Zhen was particularly fond of dance and music, frequently visiting various entertainment houses. Today, she had come to see a newly choreographed dance. However, just as the entertainment reached its peak, a servant ran up the stairs, wiping sweat from his brow. He bowed to her and called out, “Young Lady, the Lord has returned to the mansion and requests your immediate presence!”
Wu Zhen, who had been watching the dancers’ swirling skirts and applauding enthusiastically, was startled by this announcement. A look of surprise crossed her face. “What? My father has returned? It’s not the end of the month. Why has he come back?”
The music and dancing stopped at this interruption, and everyone turned to look at Wu Zhen. She picked up her riding crop and stood, walking towards the stairs. She waved to the others, saying, “I’ll go see what’s happening. I’ll have to leave for today, but please continue enjoying yourselves.”
Without waiting for a response, she quickly descended the stairs. As she reached the bottom, she encountered a handsome young man in his teens. The youth’s face, initially wearing an expression of impatience and arrogance, lit up with a smile upon seeing her. He ran over, calling out, “Sister Zhen, you are here! Why haven’t you been including me in your outings lately?”
Wu Zhen shook her head and smiled, “Little Mei, you dare to be out? Isn’t your father keeping you at home to study? Be careful, or he might break your legs for sneaking out.”
Young Master Mei pouted and mumbled, “I’m not afraid of him. Oh, Sister Zhen, are Cui Jiu and the others upstairs? Where are you going?”
Wu Zhen walked past him towards the exit, calling back without turning, “My father has returned home for some reason and is calling me back, probably to scold me. I have to go.”
Watching her leave, Young Master Mei deflated once again. He trudged up the stairs, feeling that without their leader, even the music and dance had lost their appeal.
Wu Zhen rode back to Daning Ward, an area where many of the city’s elite resided. Most of the ward walls here had gates facing the wide streets, with rows of armed guards standing at attention, looking particularly imposing.
Upon reaching the Duke of Yu’s mansion, she dismounted gracefully, tossing the reins to a servant before sauntering in with her riding crop. The elderly doorkeeper saw her and said in a low voice, “The Lord is waiting for you in the main hall, Young Lady.”
Wu Zhen glanced down at her attire, thinking that her father would likely be distressed to see her dressed this way. For the sake of his health, and to spare him the effort of lecturing her, she decided to sneak back to her quarters first to change into more appropriate women’s clothing.
However, she couldn’t escape her father’s watchful eye. As she was trying to slink along the wall, he caught her red-handed. Since there was no point in hiding now, Wu Zhen followed her father into the main hall.
Duke Yu, Wu Chundao, had once been a man of great repute, known for his bravery, wisdom, and prowess in both civil and military affairs. In his youth, he had fought on battlefields, later served as the governor of Lu Prefecture, and upon returning to Chang’an, became the Left Chancellor. He was subsequently promoted to one of the Three Excellencies, a truly illustrious career. However, a few years ago, he had insisted on retiring and, for reasons unknown, had even become a monk at Xuti Temple at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.
The Emperor had made several visits to the temple with the Empress, hoping to persuade him to return, but he maintained a detached, otherworldly attitude. He had even shaved his head, showing his resolute determination. The imperial couple had no choice but to let him stay at Xuti Temple.
This incident had further tarnished the already poor reputation of the unconventional Wu Zhen—rumors, from an unknown source, claimed that the Duke had become a monk because he was driven to it by his daughter. Wu Zhen herself dismissed this as nonsense.
However, the Duke’s renunciation of the world was not complete. While he usually resided in the temple, he would return to the Duke’s mansion for one day at the end of each month to visit his second daughter, Wu Zhen, as she was the only one left in the household, which was somewhat pitiful.
Unfortunately, Wu Zhen didn’t see it that way. She preferred having no one to supervise her. The day her father returned was less about visiting her and more about reprimanding her. The typical routine for that day involved the Duke pounding the table and glaring as he berated her for her misconduct over the past month, while she sat before him, disinterested and absentminded, staring into space as she listened.
It could be considered a unique form of father-daughter bonding.
This time, the Duke had returned before the end of the month, and Wu Zhen was genuinely curious about the reason for his visit.
The Duke, however, showed no intention of satisfying her curiosity. Seeing her attire, he first pounded the table and shouted, “What kind of outfit is this?”
Wu Zhen remained calm, seemingly oblivious to her father’s anger. She even playfully moved closer to sit beside him, asking with a bright smile, “Father, why have you returned at this time? Is something the matter?”
The Duke’s voice faltered as he suddenly remembered the purpose of his return. He looked at his grown daughter, who still lacked any sense of propriety, with a pained expression. After a moment, as if unable to face her directly, he turned to look at a nearby curtain and said, “Her Majesty the Empress sent me a message. She wants to arrange a marriage for you and asked me to come back to discuss it.”
Wu Zhen was completely caught off guard by this. She let out a surprised “Eh,” scratched her head, and without a hint of maidenly bashfulness, leaned on the small table and asked her father with interest, “Which family’s son is so fearless as to dare marry me?”