Wei Shubin controlled her mount, weaving left and right through the winding alleys of Guangde Ward, charging straight ahead at times. Initially, she managed to put considerable distance between herself and her pursuers. But when she turned onto the ward’s crossroads, she suddenly found her path blocked by a large crowd. Her family’s blue horse, always well-behaved, dared not crash into people and came to a stop with a long neigh.
As dusk was falling, several bare-chested Hu men with curly hair were performing “fire meteors” in the middle of the crossroads, wielding something bound to ropes in both hands, creating brilliant circular rings in the air – quite a lively and impressive sight. Three layers of spectators surrounded them, continuously cheering and applauding.
Wei Shubin, already distressed, had no patience to watch carefully. With the crowd blocking her path and unable to continue galloping, she had no choice but to dismount, abandon the reins, and run into the crowd. While most people were caught up in the excitement and laughter, some noticed her, looking surprised to see an elegantly dressed young lady running alone.
Thus, if her family members came asking, it wouldn’t be difficult to find her.
With this thought in mind, Wei Shubin pushed through the crowd and suddenly spotted an ornate ox cart parked beside a grand gate flanked by halberds. The guards, driver, and servants had all gathered to watch the street performance, leaving the cart and ox unattended.
This gave her the perfect opportunity to slip to the back of the cart, deftly open the door, and quietly climb inside.
Fortunately, the cart was empty.
Though the windows were narrow and the light outside was growing dim, she could feel that the cushions and reclining posts were arranged quite comfortably. In the corner of the cart was a small brazier, its intricately patterned cover allowing a faint red glow from the coals beneath, which kept the cart from being too cold.
Wei Shubin didn’t stop to wonder why such an elegant ox cart would be parked beside the gate of a high official’s residence at this hour. She merely let out a long sigh, collapsed into a seat, and tried to calm her aching body and racing heart.
She thought she could hide here for a while, wait for her pursuing family members to pass by, then slip out of the cart and find somewhere else to hide.
But where could she hide? For how long?
Two heavy iron hammers seemed to strike her heart, and Wei Shubin’s tears flowed again. As she wiped them away with her handkerchief while sobbing, she thought about how fleeing her marriage had brought great shame to Minister Wei’s household. Though her father would certainly be furious, he wouldn’t make it public. He would just order the household to search thoroughly and bring her back quickly to marry that scoundrel Cheng Yaojin in exchange for the betrothal gifts…
A Prime Minister and a Grand General – both families wielded enormous power in Chang’an. Where could she escape to? What place would dare shelter her and stand against both the Wei and Cheng households?
Just as these painful thoughts consumed her, there was a great commotion outside the cart. What seemed like a procession of people emerged from somewhere, followed by loud calls, questions, gongs, drums, and cheers. Someone shouted, “Don’t miss the auspicious time, hurry, hurry!” Dozens of voices responded in unison, surrounding the ox cart as it began to move.
Wei Shubin’s head spun from the noise, and before she could understand what was happening, she opened her mouth to call out but quickly closed it again. Her family members were likely still nearby asking questions and searching and might have already alerted the ward’s military police station – the entire Guangde Ward was unsafe. It was just as well that the cart was moving; once it got far enough away from this dangerous area, she could figure out how to get off.
Or perhaps she didn’t need to get off at all – anywhere would do.
After all, where she went… didn’t matter anymore.
The cart rumbled along the bumpy road, surrounded by chattering voices, with a band playing music up ahead. Several men’s voices sang along with the music, their song carried clearly into the cart:
“Young man… think carefully, examine inside and out, be close in everything, match in all ways… Gold and silver vessels scatter like rain, silk and gauze pile high as ward walls…”
This tune seemed familiar… As Wei Shubin gradually calmed down, she suddenly realized this was the “Blocking the Cart Song” used to intercept newlyweds. Had she accidentally snuck into a bridal cart?
Of course – at this hour, with such grandeur, who else but a pre-registered wedding party would be allowed to travel at night?
Prime Minister Wei’s eldest daughter fled her marriage, only to end up in someone else’s bridal cart…
Crying while bitter laughing, Wei Shubin sat in the now pitch-dark cart and waited patiently. She dared not peek out the windows and constantly worried that someone in the wedding procession might suddenly decide to open the cart door and look inside. After a bumpy journey that felt like they had passed through the ward gate and traveled for quite some time, then through another gate, the dusty air that had been flowing into the cart through the narrow windows gradually gave way to the scent of trees and grass.
This was troublesome – had they already left Chang’an city?
Thinking of the wolves and tigers in the mountains and forests outside the city, Wei Shubin shuddered. As the early spring night’s chill crept in waves, she fumbled around to pick up the brazier from the cart and held it in her arms. This hand warmer was slightly larger than the one she usually used at home, and its materials and craftsmanship were much more expensive and refined. Besides charcoal, it also contained fragrance, releasing a misty aroma in the darkness.
This cart must belong to a wealthy family – but whose?
Before Wei Shubin could figure it out, the ox cart stopped.
The sounds of gongs and drums outside grew more chaotic, accompanied by the laughing and shouting of a group of men. Listening carefully, she could hear phrases like “bride” and “come out” among the shouts – the groom’s party had arrived at the bride’s home. But… did the bride’s family live outside Chang’an city?
The ox cart moved again, seeming to turn a corner and travel a short distance before stopping. With a swoosh, the cart door was pulled open, and the torch light streamed in.
Having been in darkness for so long, the sudden light was blinding, and Wei Shubin instinctively squeezed her eyes shut and raised her hand to shield her face. The person who opened the door outside let out a surprised sound, clearly not expecting anyone to be in the cart.
That voice belonged to a man… Wei Shubin opened her eyes slightly to peer out.
Outside the cart door, in the circle of torchlight, stood three or four maidservants carrying various items, and in their midst was a young man in dark robes, slim in build, looking at the cart in surprise.
After they stared at each other for a moment, the young man asked:
“Are you… a servant from the Chai family?”
Servant… Wei Shubin sat up straight, her mind in chaos, not knowing how to answer. She was wearing the bright, fine clothes of a minister’s daughter, with elaborate makeup – how could she look like a servant? Though her presence in this place was admittedly rather suspicious…
“Oh my, the True Master thought of everything, even sending a maid with a hand warmer,” came a woman’s voice. “It is indeed cold at night, and Young Lady Yi Niang has such a long journey into the city by cart, we mustn’t let her catch cold…”
The words “True Master” caught her ear, along with several mentions of “Chai family” and “Yi Niang,” and Wei Shubin suddenly understood everything. As she heard the woman still chattering “Let her take the hand warmer to Yi Niang first, they’ve just opened the front gate and the groom’s party is still doing the makeup urging ceremony, there’s still time,” Wei Shubin blurted out:
“Where is the True Master? I have urgent business to discuss with her!”
“Who exactly are you?” the slim young man’s face darkened slightly as he studied her carefully. “You’re not a servant, are you? How did you get into the Chai family’s wedding cart?”
“I…” Wei Shubin swallowed hard, “My surname is Wei, I am… a wedding guest.”
Wei Shubin wasn’t lying – she had indeed been a guest at this wedding and had visited this “household” of the bride, two days ago.
Two days ago, she had also been dressed in her finest, sharing an ox cart with her mother, Lady Pei, followed by porters carrying gift baskets, making their merry way out of the North Fanglin Gate and into the imperial garden where officials and commoners were forbidden to enter without permission.
At the time, she thought she was going to deliver wedding gifts to the joyous bride’s family, but the further they went, the more it felt like they were heading to a prison.
Fanglin Gate, the imperial garden, and military camps all along the way – there was a guard post every five steps and a checkpoint every ten steps. On the watchtowers at the four corners of the temple, guards were posted in pairs, standing back-to-back, their crimson tassels on their long spears visible.
This “Ganye Temple” occupied quite a large area. Inside the black-topped gate was a deep front courtyard with a porter’s lodge, requiring at least a hundred steps to reach the three-section, five-span swooping-eaved vermillion gate. Though there were many people in and around the courtyard – servants and maids carrying various items coming and going – it was eerily quiet. The female official who came out to greet the mother and daughter was smiling warmly and observing all proper courtesies, her voice particularly loud in the empty courtyard:
“What an honor to have Minister Wei’s wife grace us with her presence! The servants have already gone to inform Princess Xin Yin and the True Master, please wait a moment…”
Wei Shubin followed her mother through the main gate, looking around. The temple compound was vast with an orderly layout. The main hall facing them was a tall, spacious pavilion, standing alone in the center of the great courtyard, quite far from the wing rooms on both the east and west sides.
It was evident that the buildings and courtyards had been recently renovated. Beyond the old bricks and stones, the ground had been cleared of weeds, turned over with new soil, and packed down. The roof tiles on the main hall were of uneven colors – the darker green tiles were obviously newly added, and there were still a few dry weeds that hadn’t been removed from the northwestern corner of the eaves, their withered stalks trembling in the early spring wind.
Who knows what the courtyard looked like before this wedding was arranged? After all, this residence housed the family members of fallen criminals – who would normally pay any attention to them? Perhaps Wei Shubin’s feeling that it was “like a prison” was closer to the truth.
On the lengthening day of the sixth month of the ninth year of Wude, Crown Prince Jiancheng and Prince of Qi Yuanji were accused by Prince of Qin Shimin of plotting against him, and he led troops to execute them at the Xuanwu Gate.
Li Jiancheng’s five sons – Prince of Anlu Chengdao, Prince of Hedong Chengde, Prince of Wu’an Chengxun, Prince of Runan Chengming, and Prince of Julu Chengyi – and Li Yuanji’s five sons – Prince of Liang Chengrong, Prince of Yuyang Chengluan, Prince of Pu’an Chengjiang, Prince of Jiangxia Chengyu, and Prince of Yiyang Chengdu – all lost their heads within a day or two. Ten boys, the eldest no more than nine years old – in the early morning of that summer day, their fresh blood soaked the ground in front of the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace. Months later, before the new owners moved into the Eastern Palace, they specifically ordered all the old soil from that courtyard to be dug up and replaced.
As for the remaining women of both families – Li Jiancheng’s primary consort Lady Zheng and their five daughters, Li Yuanji’s primary consort Lady Yang, and their six daughters – they vanished from the mortal world from that point on. It wasn’t until this winter, nine years later, when news spread from the palace that Li Jiancheng’s eldest daughter would be titled Princess of Linfen County and married to the heir of Duke Chao of Chai, that many people learned they were still alive, having lived all this time in this Ganye Temple, converted from the former residence of the Prince of Qi.
In the second year of Zhenguan, Li Jiancheng was posthumously titled “Prince Xi” with the temple name “Yin,” while Li Yuanji was titled “Prince Hailing” with the temple name “Li.” Their primary consorts thus received the titles of Princess Consorts, and their daughters became eligible for the title of “County Princess.” The court placed great importance on this wedding of Li Jiancheng’s eldest daughter, the County Princess of Linfen, specially ordering former Eastern Palace officials Wei Zheng, Wang Gui, Wei Ting, and their families to attend and offer congratulations, maintaining the old bonds between ruler and subject.
Standing behind her mother, Wei Shubin was curious about what the two Princess Consorts and a group of County Princesses looked like, but the person who came to receive them was a familiar face – a beautiful female official around twenty-four or twenty-five years old.
“Please forgive me, Lady Pei, and ah, Young Lady Fen has come too? Please come in quickly. My elder aunt – Consort Zheng is receiving guests, and Yingluo is in charge of all arrangements inside and out, please excuse any oversights…”
In that clear, crisp voice, Wei Shubin curled her lips while following her mother inside, glancing at the female official. She wore a tall ceremonial hairdo secured with phoenix-headed ornamental pins, dressed in a cross-collared wide-sleeved jacket and skirt. Though the fabric was thick, her neckline was daringly low, revealing a generous expanse of snow-white skin with a hint of cleavage at the crossed edges, and a birthmark on her neck gleamed like a red plum blossom in snow. It was remarkable she wasn’t worried about catching a cold in this early spring weather.
“Blessings to the True Master – having shed your Taoist robes for palace official’s attire, I hardly recognized you!” Mother Lady Pei was also laughing.
“I had no choice. As you know, my younger brother is taking a bride. We have several female stewards at home, and my father is like a protective deity, so I thought I could avoid work. But the Empress said this Ganye Temple looked too undignified and had no one capable of managing affairs, so she issued an imperial order for me, as the elder sister, to come help at my future sister-in-law’s home, to substitute as family and arrange Yi Niang – the County Princess of Linfen’s wedding. I haven’t had a moment’s rest since before the new year until today,” the official sighed. “When managing a wedding, I could hardly gesture about in Taoist robes, could I? Outsiders would think it was a funeral service rather than a wedding.”
This elder sister spoke without any filters. Wei Shubin burst out laughing: “So, True Master, does this count as leaving the religious life?”
“I’ve burned a memorial to the Supreme Lord Lao to temporarily leave for three days,” the official winked at her. “Right now, I’m Lady Chai Yingluo. Once the bride is safely settled in our home, I’ll return to my Purple Void Abbey, burn the paper to end my leave, and continue being a True Master Taoist.”
…This female Taoist certainly took a casual approach to entering and leaving religious life.
Chai Yingluo wasn’t exaggerating when she said she “hadn’t a moment’s rest” – in the few steps it took to escort the Wei mother and daughter to the main hall, she gave several orders to servants:
“Find the formal robes for the two Princess Consorts quickly, no matter which chest they’re packed in – it’ll be your heads if things go wrong!”
“Take the Wei family’s wedding gifts to place before the Buddha too, and be careful!”
“Don’t worry about that large patch of wasteland to the north, just pile the courtyard weeds over there…”
The Empress Zhangsun had chosen perfectly to appoint Chai Yingluo to oversee the wedding at Ganye Temple, Wei Shubin thought privately. Though young, this female Taoist was capable and efficient, with an unmistakable air of a great general – everyone said “like mother, like daughter.”
Chai Yingluo’s mother was surnamed Li, from Didao in Longxi. She was the only daughter of the Supreme Emperor and his primary consort Empress Mu née Dou, and the current Emperor’s full sister, third among the sisters. When the Supreme Emperor and his sons raised an army in Taiyuan to rebel against Sui, Li Third Lady, already married into the Chai family, used her wealth to pacify bandits and organize a “Ladies’ Army” as a mere woman. She commanded seventy thousand troops and terrorized Guanzhong, greatly contributing to the Taiyuan righteous army’s successful entry through the passes and capture of the capital to establish Tang.
After the founding of the Great Tang, Li Third Lady was titled “Princess Pingyang” and greatly favored. Unfortunately, she did not live long, dying in childbirth in the sixth year of Wude, leaving behind one daughter and two sons. The elder son Chai Zhewei had been betrothed since childhood to his maternal uncle Jiancheng’s eldest daughter and was the groom in this wedding, while the only daughter was this female Taoist Chai Yingluo.
When Chai Yingluo escorted the Wei mother and daughter into the main hall, Princess Consort Zheng of Prince Xi Yin was receiving guests with her daughter. There were many ladies present to offer congratulations, and Lady Pei immediately joined the group of middle-aged noble women, but Wei Shubin’s attention was entirely focused on the County Princess of Linfen sitting to the side.
The young bride, who would be married in two days, showed no trace of joy. Her small face was pale, her head hung low, and though she was already eighteen years old, she looked no more than fourteen or fifteen. She knelt on the cushions, uncomfortably fidgeting with her clothes and fingers.
There were no other young ladies in the hall, so Wei Shubin could only approach her to make conversation. But when she drew near to pay her respects, she realized the Princess was not merely nervous, but terrified and despairing, her body trembling as if Wei Shubin were some fierce beast.
Is this what happens when you’re confined for nine years without seeing outsiders…?
When Li Yi Niang spoke, her voice also trembled:
“His Majesty and the Empress have been most merciful – most merciful to us… My late father and fourth uncle Prince Hailing deserved their punishment for their great crimes… Aunt Empress is virtuous, personally bestowing a dowry, showing the kindness of marrying off her daughter… Wanxi is grateful – grateful beyond words…”
Whoever taught her these words of praise did a poor job – she delivered them in broken fragments that barely made sense, enough to frustrate any teacher.
Wei Shubin tried to keep the conversation going, but Li Yi Niang, whose personal name was Wanxi, although two or three years older than her, had less understanding than Shufen’s eleven-year-old third sister. Whatever topic was raised, she would only stare with pure, clear eyes, unable to continue the conversation. Finally, they could only discuss someone they both knew – True Master Chai Yingluo.
How wise of the Empress to send the True Master to oversee the wedding at Ganye Temple, surely she would take special care since the groom was her full-blood younger brother… Yes… Sister Ying’s status was most noble, being the only daughter of their third aunt… She was also the only granddaughter of the Supreme Emperor’s primary consort, showing the heroic qualities of both Empress Taimu and Princess Pingyang… Indeed… I thought Sister Ying looked familiar at first sight, she resembles our third aunt… Yes, Sister Ying has been so kind to me, taking care of everything…
Wei Shubin watched Li Wanxi occasionally raise her head and smile faintly, like a splash of pale red on blank silk, or like a bird fluttering briefly through the dead stillness after winter snow, vanishing in an instant. Li Jiancheng’s eldest daughter could be called pretty, but her features lacked vitality, and her eyes were dim and timid.
Such a quiet and docile young lady, marrying into the Chai family with her cousin looking after her and a loving husband, should gradually become more confident and cheerful, right?
That day, the Wei mother and daughter didn’t stay long. Mother Lady Pei was in poor health, so after delivering their gifts and exchanging pleasantries, she took her daughter home.
According to the ritual procedures drafted by the Ministry of Rites, two days later on the day of the wedding – tonight – her parents would need to return to Ganye Temple in their capacity as former Eastern Palace officials to see off Li Jiancheng’s eldest daughter. But that had nothing to do with Wei Shubin – as an unmarried young lady, she shouldn’t have been present at such an occasion…
Who would have thought that through some twist of fate, she would end up in the wedding cart prepared by the Chai family for Li Yi Niang?
Vol 1 – Chapter 2 – Historical Notes:
1. In ancient times, four-wheeled carriages were never actually used; all were two-wheeled. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, “horse” carriages were rare, with ox carts being more common. The carriage compartments were smaller than those seen in modern films and dramas, typically only able to accommodate one or two people. Since images cannot be shown here, readers are directed to the author’s Weibo to view photos of the “Tang Dynasty tri-colored ox cart displayed at Shaanxi History Museum” and “Northern Qi pottery ox cart published by Shanxi Museum’s official account.”
2. The “Blocking the Cart Song” beginning with “Young man…” is directly copied from Dunhuang manuscripts. “Blocking the cart” was a popular Tang Dynasty (medieval) wedding custom where a group of idle men or rascals would learn about upcoming weddings and ambush the groom’s party on their way home with the bride. They would surround the wedding cart, refusing passage while singing, dancing, and demanding food, drink, and treasures. Some wedding hosts would arrange their own “cart blockers” just for atmosphere and excitement. These arranged blockers would sing many auspicious lyrics while making their demands, typically including the “Young Man” series.
3. Regarding “violating night curfew”: Chang’an enforced a “night curfew” where, except for three days during the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month when people could go out to view lanterns, the city gates and ward gates would close at sunset, prohibiting people from leaving their residential wards. However, for weddings or funerals, with prior approval from relevant authorities and proper documentation, one could “violate curfew.” This was necessary as weddings were typically held at night.
4. Taiji Palace and Imperial Garden: During the Zhenguan era, the later famous “Daming Palace” was barely constructed. Emperor Li Shimin resided in the “Taiji Palace,” the oldest and most “formal” imperial palace in Chang’an. The northern wall of Taiji Palace was also Chang’an’s north wall, with the famous Xuanwu Gate as its north gate. Beyond the city walls to the Wei River was the “Imperial Garden” reserved for royal hunting and farming, containing imperial villas, Buddhist temples, Taoist venues, orchards, vegetable gardens, and old palace residential buildings from the Han Dynasty, as well as military garrisons like the “North Court Seven Camps” established during the Zhenguan era, initially for accompanying Emperor Li’s hunting trips but later developing into the true Imperial Guard.
5. The wives and daughters of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji:
While Li Shimin never denied the dark history of killing his elder brother Li Jiancheng and younger brother Li Yuanji, along with their ten sons, during the “Xuanwu Gate Incident” and forcing their father Li Yuan to abdicate, claims that “Li the Second killed entire families of his brothers” are exaggerated. Recently discovered tomb epitaphs of Li Jiancheng and his primary consort Zheng Guanyin (searchable online) reveal that Zheng Guanyin, who was Crown Princess during the Wude era, continued to be well-treated after the Xuanwu Gate Incident. She died at age 78 inside the Changle Gate in the third year of Shangyuan during Emperor Gaozong’s reign and was temporarily housed at her “fifth daughter County Princess Guide’s residence.” This confirms Li Jiancheng had at least five daughters, with at least two reaching marriageable age. Another was his second daughter, County Princess Wenxi Li Wanshun, whose tomb epitaph has also been discovered.
Li Yuanji’s wife Lady Yang is well-documented in historical records. Recent tomb epitaph discoveries combined with historical texts show Li Yuanji had at least six daughters, with at least five marrying: County Princess Wen’an (married Duan Yan, son of Duan Lun, tomb epitaph exists), County Princess Guiren (married the second son of Duke Changdao of Tianshui Jiang family, tomb epitaph exists), County Princess Shouchun (married Yang Yuzhi, son of Yang Shidao, documented in texts), County Princess Hejing (married Xue Yuanchao, son of Xue Shou, mentioned in texts and her husband’s biography and epitaph), and the sixth daughter County Princess Xinye (Li Ling, courtesy name Shuxuan, married Pei Zhonghui of Hedong, tomb epitaph exists).
6. Ganye Temple where Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s wives and daughters lived: This is a fictional setting based on the “Hongyi Palace” entry in “Tang Huiyao”: “On the fifth day of the seventh month of Wude’s fifth year, Hongyi Palace was built. Initially, the Prince of Qin resided in the Chengqian Hall within the palace. Emperor Gaozu, acknowledging the Prince of Qin’s merit in conquering the realm, specially granted him the privilege of building this separate palace for his residence. By the seventh month of the ninth year, Emperor Gaozu favored Hongyi Palace for its scenic mountains and forests. By the fourth month of Zhenguan’s third year, he moved to reside there and renamed it Tai(Da) a Palace.”
After Tang’s founding, both Li Shimin and Li Yuanji lived in Taiji Palace (Li Yuanji in the rear court of Wude Hall). As it was improper for adult princes to live thus, and with the crown prince succession issue, in Wude’s fifth year, Li the Second moved to Hongyi Palace in the Imperial Garden. Though unrecorded in history, the novel assumes Li Yuan simultaneously built identical palace compounds within the Imperial Garden for his second and fourth sons, with the Prince of Qi’s palace named “Hongli Palace” east of Hongyi Palace, closer to the Western Inner Garden. After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the Prince of Qi’s palace’s property and servants were awarded to Yuchi Jingde for his merit in saving the emperor. The building was converted into a Buddhist temple named “Ganye Temple” (intentionally copying a famous name) to house Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s wives and daughters.
To emphasize: Hongli Palace and Ganye Temple are fictional settings without historical documentation. Even the location of the “Ganye Temple” where Wu Zetian became a nun remains debated.
7. The “female official ceremonial dress” worn by Chai Yingluo can be understood as a uniform, representing one of the earliest “low-cut designs” found in Tang Dynasty archaeological evidence. For its general appearance, readers can view the “line-carved illustration from Wei Xu’s tomb in Xi’an” on the author’s Weibo.