On the way back, Pu Zhu was still utterly bewildered.
She truly could not make sense of the strange encounter she had had in the palace today — what it meant, and what the Emperor’s intentions were. Her mind full of doubts, her thoughts heavy, she returned to the Guo household, entered through the main hall, and was making her way through to the rear courtyard when, halfway along, she saw Guo Lang’s wife emerge from the corridor across the way, surrounded by several maidservants. She pulled herself together in preparation for questioning.
Sure enough, Madam Yan asked what business had brought her into the palace. Pu Zhu offhandedly said she had been with the Empress Dowager Chen for conversation, and then looked behind Madam Yan.
Every time she returned from an outing, Ju A’mu would immediately come out to meet her. But at this moment, Ju A’mu was nowhere to be seen. Worried she might be suffering from a back pain flare-up, Pu Zhu asked after her.
Madam Yan smiled: ‘I was just about to tell you — what wonderful news! Her son and daughter-in-law brought her grandson and came looking for her. The whole family was reunited! They’ve taken her away, saying they’re going back to their hometown so their children can properly tend to her and enjoy family life together!’
Pu Zhu was astonished, thinking at first that she had heard wrong, and asked again.
An elderly woman at Madam Yan’s side then explained: ‘Little Mistress, you had just been taken to the palace when a young couple arrived at the household, bringing a four-or-five-year-old boy. When we asked, we found out it was your Ju A’mu’s son and daughter-in-law and grandson — people from Wugong County. The daughter-in-law said that when she married in, she had heard from her husband that his mother had been sold away when he was small. He had been too young then, and could only watch helplessly as his mother was taken away. Over the years, he had always missed her. Now that the old ones in the family had all passed on, and it was just the husband and wife with their grandson, they had been thinking unceasingly for the past two years of finding her and bringing her back home to be cared for, to make up for the separation between mother and child. But in this vast world, where could they begin to search? Fortunately, Heaven never closes every door — a short while ago, the county magistrate of their Wugong County was compiling the county annals and a record of notable persons, and they heard that a new entry seemed to match their long-lost mother. They went to inquire, confirmed it without a doubt, and immediately brought their grandson here. After a great deal of searching they finally found their way to our household today. The whole family was reunited, wept together, and your Ju A’mu was joyfully taken home by them!’
Pu Zhu said, her voice failing her: ‘How is that possible? Was that person really Ju A’mu’s son?’
The elderly woman nodded with certainty: ‘The young man revealed a birthmark on his shoulder, and your Ju A’mu recognized it. Her eyes went red!’
The hope in Pu Zhu’s heart slowly sank. Clinging to one last fragment of hope, she ran back to her quarters, rushed into Ju A’mu’s room.
The room was empty, and search as she might, the woman was truly gone.
‘A’mu!’
Pu Zhu sank softly onto the edge of the bed and called out chokingly, her nose stinging, tears falling.
Ju A’mu had come to the Pu household before she was born. That year of famine, Ju A’mu’s husband’s family had sold her; Pu Zhu’s mother had encountered her, taken pity, and bought her back.
And truly — she did remember her mother mentioning once or twice when she was small that because Ju A’mu was mute from birth, not only had her husband’s family looked down on and mistreated her, but even the son she had born was not allowed near her. When she was sold that year, the son had been about five or six.
After all these years, Pu Zhu had never once imagined that in this life, there could come such a day — that Ju A’mu’s son from before would find his way to her.
But even so, she could not believe that Ju A’mu would simply walk out and leave her like this.
So what if the ones who came to claim her were truly her son? How could Ju A’mu just go without her — just leave her like that?
Was she not the person Ju A’mu loved most in the entire world?
She wiped away her tears with one hand, rose to her feet, and ran outside. To Madam Yan, who had come hurrying after her, she said: ‘They took Ju A’mu to Wugong County, didn’t they? How long ago did they leave? Please help me arrange a carriage — I’m going after them!’
Madam Yan and the elderly woman exchanged a glance: ‘Young Lady, if she had no son it would be one thing, but she does have one, and her son and daughter-in-law are devoted and came such a long way to find her and bring her home to be comfortable — there is no reason to stop her from being reunited with her children and grandchildren. Please don’t make a scene over this.’
Pu Zhu knew they were right — every word was right. There was no reason Ju A’mu should be obligated to spend the rest of her life at her side. Yet she could not hold back her sorrow and grief, and could not accept that Ju A’mu had simply left without her like this.
At this moment, the Guo household steward came running from outside and called out: ‘An imperial edict! Young Lady, receive the imperial edict!’
Pu Zhu started.
An edict had come!
A scene uncannily similar to when the edict appointing her Crown Princess had been delivered to the Guo household in her previous life had finally arrived!
She temporarily set aside Ju A’mu and hurried to the main hall, where she saw the familiar eunuch Song Changsheng sitting there, with Guo Lang beside him, his smile somewhat strained.
He must also have guessed at the contents of this edict.
Seeing Pu Zhu appear, Song Changsheng rose with the imperial edict in hand and said with a smile: ‘Young Lady, prepare to receive the edict.’
Pu Zhu composed herself, rinsed her hands in the water basin brought by the household maids, then knelt behind the offering table.
Song Changsheng unrolled the imperial edict and read: ‘The foundation of the realm lies in the state, and the foundation of the state lies in the family. Since the time of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, it has never been heard that with the family in order, the realm is not well governed. The Pu family’s virtue has accumulated good fortune across generations, nurturing a daughter of distinguished lineage — gentle and virtuous, quiet and still, well versed in ritual and decorum, and in every gesture and movement displaying the manner of a woman from a great family. By this We do, with the conferment of the ceremonial seal, bestow upon you in marriage as the Princess Consort of Our Fourth Brother the Prince of Qin. May virtue be the foundation of the household, may reverence attend the ancestral rites…’
Song Changsheng was still reading on in his drawn-out cadence, the words rising and falling. But when Pu Zhu heard the words ‘Princess Consort of Our Fourth Brother the Prince of Qin’ emerge from his mouth, her ears erupted with a loud ringing, and she was left dumbstruck — whatever he read after that, she could not hear a word.
Princess Consort of Prince of Qin Li Xuandu?
It was supposed to be an appointment as Crown Princess!
How had it become Li Xuandu’s princess consort?
No! No! No!
She must have heard wrong! How could this be?
Song Changsheng finished reading the edict and said with a smile: ‘Young Lady, receive the edict and express your gratitude!’
Seeing that her complexion was odd and she had no reaction at all, just staring at him wide-eyed as if she had heard nothing, he assumed she was simply too overcome with excitement to compose herself, and thought nothing of it.
He had delivered all manner of imperial edicts many times on the Emperor’s behalf and had seen every conceivable reaction from people upon receiving them. When it was good news, there were those who had collapsed to the ground weeping in excitement or even fainted — this small loss of composure was nothing at all.
‘Young Lady, His Majesty bestows upon you in marriage to the Prince of Qin. From this day forward, you are the Princess Consort of the Prince of Qin! The greatest of fortunes — will you not express your gratitude?’
He had quite a favorable impression of the Pu family’s young lady and specially reminded her once more.
Pu Zhu felt as though someone had dealt her a fierce, unexpected blow from behind; the breath in her chest could not rise for a moment, and she swayed, nearly crumpling to the ground.
The sharp-eyed Guo Lang’s wife at her side quickly reached out and steadied her arm, smiling to smooth things over: ‘Please pardon the palace messenger. This young lady is simply overcome with joy. Congratulations, Young Lady — from now on you are the Princess Consort of the Prince of Qin!’
…
Li Xuandu had his hair bound in a Taoist topknot, his body wrapped in a thin white silk Taoist robe, and lay stretched out in the vast and cool quiet chamber of Yuqing Hall, his eyes closed, motionless.
The sky had grown dark, and the quiet chamber had fallen into dimness. The windows were wide open, and cool breezes poured steadily in through the windows, stirring the hem of the robe that draped down from the meditation bed.
Just a moment ago, in a light, drowsy slumber, he had once again dreamed of his eldest brother — the Crown Prince.
The elder brother he had most revered and trusted since childhood. His body drenched in blood, with a sad, guilty, yet cruel gaze, had looked at him and said: ‘Fourth Brother, do not blame me. If you must blame something, blame the fact that we are our father’s sons, born into this accursed imperial family. From the very first day we were born, we were cursed. Our whole lives through, no one shall be free of it.’
The image of his elder brother in the dream — cold and sorrowful — lingered like an inescapable nightmare, casting its shadow over every dream he had had since he turned sixteen.
Countless times now, waking, Li Xuandu had wanted to drive this image from his mind.
But he could not do it. No matter how many sutras of quietude he read, he could not do it.
The curse from his eldest brother the Crown Prince seemed like a branding iron heated bright red, seared deep into the recesses of his mind.
Perhaps, as his elder brother had said, in this lifetime there would be no escape — it would remain a haunting nightmare that followed him to the end of his days.
This thought brought a burning despair rising in Li Xuandu’s chest, at the place where his heart lay. The burning quickly spread throughout his whole body, as if needles were pricking beneath his skin.
The evening breeze, threading through the forest, blew in wave after wave through the window, carrying with it the particular coolness characteristic of the mountains.
This was a fine place to spend the summer, yet he was hot. The white silk Taoist robe was pressed tight against the purple bamboo meditation bed by the sweat seeping through his back.
He snapped his eyes open, raked his hand carelessly over the robe’s collar, turned and rolled off the bed. Not going through the hall’s doors, he went straight to the window, pressed one palm against the sill, and with a light leap, vaulted himself out through the window.
He strode to a nearby rushing mountain spring and waterfall, waded through the water, and stood barefoot in the stream, letting the icy spring water cascade from his crown, flowing along his face, his neck, his chest, and soaking through his whole body.
Ye Xiao came to find him and said the Emperor had sent word, summoning him to go to Penglai Palace immediately — there was a matter to discuss.
Li Xuandu continued to stand under the waterfall for a moment, then wiped the water from his soaking face, came out from beneath the falls, returned to the quiet chamber without a word, stripped off the wet robe clinging to his body, changed into other clothes, left the Taoist temple, and made his way toward Penglai Palace.
The Chen elderly female official was waiting for him at the palace gate. The moment she saw him, with his hair still dripping wet, she felt a pang of concern and feared he might catch a chill from the wind. She immediately called for someone to bring a cloth to dry his hair, and moved to personally wipe it for him.
Li Xuandu smiled and said it was nothing, took the cloth himself, dried his hair roughly a few times, asked where the Emperor was, tossed the cloth down, and went inside.
The Emperor had come unexpectedly today, and what he had said to the Grand Empress Dowager afterward that required summoning the Prince of Qin — the Chen female official had no idea. But she always had a feeling that this was probably not good news.
She watched the retreating figure walking along the passage ahead, pressed down the unease in her heart, and followed along.
The sky had darkened; the palace attendants had already lit all the lanterns hanging beneath the hall eaves one by one. From Li Xuandu’s angle, the silhouettes of those vast and sprawling black palace buildings ahead seemed to float suspended above the lanterns, like a scene from a mirage.
He entered the palace hall where the Jiang Empress Dowager received for daily purposes, addressed her as Imperial Grandmother, then addressed the Emperor, and immediately made his obeisance.
The Emperor bade him rise and be seated, glanced at the Jiang Empress Dowager at his side, and said warmly: ‘Fourth Brother, your Imperial Elder Brother has disturbed your meditation and summoned you here to be at our Grandmother’s side. It is because there is a piece of good news to tell you. Imperial Elder Brother happened to hear from the Marquis of Guangping that you have tender feelings for the granddaughter of Pu Youzhi. Over these years, your Imperial Elder Brother has been in constant anxiety about your lifelong affairs, and looking over all the young women of the capital, not one proved worthy of Fourth Brother. Now it is settled — two extraordinary people, a perfect pair! Your Imperial Elder Brother has taken charge and already sent the bestowed-marriage edict to the Guo household. And to your side, your Imperial Elder Brother came specially to personally inform you. Tomorrow your Imperial Elder Brother will command the Grand Astrologer to choose an auspicious day and hour for the wedding. Your Imperial Elder Brother hopes that Fourth Brother will marry at the earliest opportunity. With a Princess Consort for company, afterward Imperial Grandmother and your Imperial Elder Brother will be as if our heart’s wish has been granted, and may both rest easy.’
The Emperor finished speaking and gazed smilingly at Li Xuandu.
Li Xuandu sat frozen, and for quite a long while made no sound.
The Emperor’s smile gradually faded, and he said: ‘What is the matter with Fourth Brother? Is there something you wish to say?’
Li Xuandu seemed then to come to himself. His eyes dropped slightly, and he slowly rose from his seat, turning in the Emperor’s direction, and made a bow.
‘Your younger brother has nothing to say. Only gratitude in his heart, beyond all words to express.’ He spoke, one word at a time.
The Emperor gave a joyful laugh, and nodded, turning to the Jiang Empress Dowager: ‘Imperial Grandmother, look — Fourth Brother is simply too overjoyed for words. Very well then. May Fourth Brother and the Princess Consort henceforth support each other in sincerity, and remain together until their hair turns white. This would not be unworthy of your Imperial Elder Brother’s intention today in tying the red cord!’
The Emperor offered more congratulations, and since affairs of state were heavy, he took his leave of the Jiang Empress Dowager, and the imperial procession departed.
The Jiang Empress Dowager’s expression was grave as she looked at the young grandson before her. She hesitated for a moment, then said: ‘Jade Unicorn, is the Marquis of Guangping’s claim true? Do you truly have feelings for the Pu family’s granddaughter?’
By lamplight, Li Xuandu’s expression was gentle and smiling, just as he always was before the Jiang Empress Dowager.
‘Imperial Grandmother, why do you ask this? Of course it is true. She is beautiful and virtuous, pure as jade and fragrant as a blossom. When your grandson obeyed Imperial Grandmother’s command at the start of the year and passed through Yumen on his way to receive Huaiwei, he first encountered her at a postal station and was captivated by her at that very moment. For Imperial Elder Brother to have arranged this, your grandson could not be more pleased. Your grandson also knows that Imperial Grandmother has long been concerned about his future. From now on, Imperial Grandmother need only set her heart at ease — there is no more need to worry for nothing.’