The wind whistled past his ears. Li Yuangui hunched over on horseback, gritting his teeth as he whipped his horse. His body swayed with the galloping steed’s movements as they raced ahead at breakneck speed.
After Wei Shubin spoke those words at the Chai residence, everyone present blanched. Chai Yinglu immediately ordered servants to fetch horses. Li Yuangui had already started running toward the gate, with Wei Shubin keeping pace beside him, rapidly explaining why she had come with the news:
That morning, the Crown Prince’s consort Lady Su had sent her maid to Purple Void Temple in a panic, informing Wei Shubin that Crown Prince Chengyin had told Empress Changsun that “Prince Wu Yuangui dreamed of his late mother Consort Zhang missing her daughter, and wished to take his seventeenth sister of the same mother to Wangsheng Temple to pay respects.” The Empress had granted permission, ordering the Seventeenth Princess to cleanse herself and fast, while instructing Consort Su to personally accompany the Seventeenth Princess to pay respects at Wangsheng Temple where Consort Zhang’s body was temporarily housed…
Before Li Yuangui could hear the rest, he already understood what was happening. This was Crown Prince Li Chengyin’s revenge for his defiance and last night’s intrusion into the Eastern Palace.
The “Wangsheng Temple” where his mother’s coffin was placed sat at the edge of the imperial gardens by the Wei River bank, considered part of the Daan Palace’s outer grounds. It was generally viewed as one complex together with the “Palace Servants’ Slope” where palace maids were buried—as desolate and remote a location as one could find. Moreover, to reach Wangsheng Temple from the imperial gardens, one had to pass through the grounds of Daan Palace. The Crown Prince and his wife would only need to make one “casual detour” to safely deliver his seventeenth sister back into the hands of Consort Yi De at Daan Hall.
Damn that beast to hell.
Li Yuangui ran straight out of the Chai residence gates and galloped away, with only Yang Xinzhi keeping pace with him. The two horses thundered out of the ward and onto the main road, racing toward the imperial gardens. He suspected the Chai father and daughter would follow with some household servants, but even if no reinforcements came, just the two of them would fight to the death to prevent Li Chengyin from delivering his little sister back to that den of demons.
Their speed was restricted within the city, so they first exited through the Golden Light Gate, galloping at full speed on the main road outside the city, cutting north-south through the imperial gardens to the Palace Servants’ Slope on the southern bank of the Wei River. Both Chang’an and the imperial gardens covered a vast territory, and though they rode excellent horses, by the time they caught sight of Wangsheng Temple’s spirit pagoda in the distance, Yang Xinzhi’s mount could no longer continue, letting out a long whinny before collapsing to the ground.
Li Yuangui had no time to worry about him, spurring his horse up the hill ahead. The setting sun cast slanting rays, revealing the vast gentle slope stretching northward to the Wei River before his eyes.
In early spring during the second month, the dense woods near the water already showed hints of verdant green when viewed from afar. At the end of the winding road down the slope stood Wangsheng Temple’s towering spirit pagoda and multiple courtyards. The desolate woodland between the temple’s back wall and the Wei River bank was the “Palace Servants’ Slope” burial ground. In the gradually dimming light, the thick treetops appeared increasingly gloomy, with hundreds of years of grave mounds from the Han to Tang dynasties piled layer upon layer among the elms, willows, and sophora trees. Most of those buried here were palace servants, disgraced consorts, craftsmen, slaves, and maids. Gazing into the distance, the western wind swept across the remaining sunlight, with a silver-white line at the horizon marking the rushing Wei River—Chang’an’s natural moat to the north.
The wind was strong on the waterside hilltop, whirling fallen leaves, long grass, and burnt paper money from the burial ground into the air, momentarily blurring Li Yuangui’s vision. But he quickly focused his attention on the group of carriages and horses on the road below.
The group numbered about forty to fifty people and had stopped not far from Wangsheng Temple’s gate, clearly divided into two opposing parties.
One group appeared to have just emerged from the temple, with twenty to thirty guards and servants surrounding a two-horse carriage in the middle, rolling up their sleeves and arguing about something. Facing them and blocking the road was a smaller group comprised entirely of young and strong men, all armed with sabers and spears and wearing fine weapons—they were inner palace guards from Daan Palace.
Li Yuangui’s pupils constricted. He recognized the leader of this group of inner palace guards—it was again Yin Tuo, the Deputy Palace Supervisor of Daan Palace.
Spurring his horse downhill, finding a path through the trees to approach the road, the sounds of argument between the two groups gradually reached his ears:
“…How dare you block the Crown Prince Consort’s carriage, have you no regard for law or heaven’s principles! Supervisor Yin, isn’t your authority in Daan Palace enough? Now you dare bully even our Eastern Palace, this is outrageous!”
“Listen to yourself! This humble one is merely following orders to escort the Seventeenth Princess home, what talk is there of authority or bullying? The Crown Prince is also at Daan Palace, discussing with Lady Yin how to serve the Emperor Emeritus. We’re all family, why speak such harsh words?”
“If the Crown Prince ordered us to escort the Seventeenth Princess to Daan Palace, then show us the written command! What proof is there but your word? This morning in Lizheng Hall, the Empress decreed that the Crown Prince Consort would escort the Seventeenth Princess to pay respects to her mother, then escort her back…”
“Save all this nonsense for when you reach Daan Palace—you can explain yourselves to the Crown Prince and Consort De!” Yin Tuo lost patience. “I have orders from Daan Palace to escort the Seventeenth Princess up the mountain. Anyone who dares obstruct is defying imperial orders—that’s treason! Come, seize these rebels and bind them, then escort the Crown Prince Consort’s carriage!”
The dozen or so guards he brought responded in unison, raising their spears and drawing their sabers to charge forward. Though the Eastern Palace escort was larger in number, half were palace maids and eunuchs with clearly inferior fighting abilities. When threatened by the Daan Palace guards, some maids had already started screaming.
“How dare you, traitors!”
Hoofbeats thundered as Li Yuangui charged out from the roadside woods, crashing directly between the two groups of people. His mount was utterly exhausted by now, and after being struck from both sides, could no longer stand steady. With a long whinny, it collapsed.
Li Yuangui leaped from his horse and, taking advantage of the chaos between the two groups, rushed to the two-horse carriage and called out: “Seventeenth Sister?”
“Brother!” His younger sister’s tearful voice responded immediately. The carriage window screen was quickly pulled open, revealing a small face with twin buns and tear stains: “Brother, save me!”
Li Yuangui steadied himself, and as his eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the carriage, he saw that Crown Prince Consort Lady Su was seated with the Seventeenth Princess, her arms protectively encircling the young girl. Both appeared frightened but unharmed. Li Yuangui had no time to think further, drawing his saber and striding toward Yin Tuo.
His sudden appearance and charge into their ranks had caught both sides off guard, causing momentary chaos. But the Daan Palace guards quickly realized he was alone. With Yin Tuo shouting commands, they stabilized their formation, and seeing his fierce approach, two guards crossed their spears to block his path.
Li Yuangui didn’t believe these guards would dare wound him, but given the vast difference in numbers, if a dozen men came forward to seize him barehanded, he couldn’t hold them off for long even with his saber. After a moment’s consideration, he stopped and shouted angrily at Yin Tuo:
“Despicable wretch! What kind of skill is it to bully women and children? Get out of here! Don’t force me to take action myself!”
“Fourteenth Brother!” Yin Tuo sneered, “This humble one is following orders. What does Prince Wu intend by openly defying the Crown Prince’s command? Forgive my rudeness, but I must apprehend the Prince…”
Before he could finish speaking, Li Yuangui had already made his decision, ducking through the gap between the crossed spears in front of him, putting his strength behind his saber and charging straight at the scoundrel Yin Tuo, aiming to capture the ringleader first.
Unfortunately, Yin Tuo was too familiar with Li Yuangui’s temperament and was prepared. Li Yuangui had trained under imperial masters since childhood, with excellent swordsmanship and agile movements. In a proper duel, Yin Tuo might not last ten moves against him. But this rogue had extensive experience in street brawls and melees. Seeing Li Yuangui’s fierce attack, rather than trying to parry, he lowered his head and rolled away on the ground, tumbling outward in the most ungraceful manner possible—yet Li Yuangui’s long saber hadn’t touched a single hair on his head.
When the first strike missed, the surrounding Daan Palace guards shouted in unison and immediately swarmed forward to encircle Li Yuangui. This mission Yin Tuo had come to carry out was far from righteous, and he had selected followers who were all trusted confidants of him and his sister in Daan Palace. Though these guards dared not threaten a prince with naked blades, they also wouldn’t stand idle while Li Yuangui pursued Yin Tuo. Over ten men surrounded him, throwing punches and kicks, trying to knock him down and capture him.
Li Yuangui swung his saber defensively, moving like the wind, creating a protective web of cold light around himself that kept the guards at bay for the moment. During the fight, commands could be heard from the carriage, and several Eastern Palace guards rushed over to join the melee in his support, with the clash of weapons ringing out.
“Fourteenth Brother—”
A thunderous roar came from the hillside. Li Yuangui glanced up amid the chaos to see a strong man charging down the slope like wind and thunder while shouting—it was Yang Xinzhi who had caught up after being left behind. This burly man didn’t even draw his sword; after charging into the crowd, he seized a long spear with his bare hands and wielded it like a whirling snowstorm.
Though Yang Xinzhi was tall, strong, and powerful, he lacked agility and finesse. In a one-on-one duel, he might not even defeat Li Yuangui, but he was perfect for this kind of melee. Once he joined the battle with his seized polearm, his presence alone forced the Daan Palace guards to repeatedly fall back, infuriating Yin Tuo who screamed from behind for his men to hold their ground.
But they couldn’t maintain this standoff forever—even with himself and Yang Xinzhi, the Eastern Palace side still didn’t have the upper hand in fighting power. Li Yuangui calculated quickly, shouting “Big Yang, hold them off!” before ducking low and charging through the Daan Palace guards’ encirclement with his saber, rushing toward the carriage.
Three or four Eastern Palace guards were still standing watch by the carriage. Li Yuangui shouted “Block their pursuit!” to them as he leaped onto the driver’s seat, roughly pushed the driver aside, grabbed the reins, and pulled hard while shouting commands, turning the two-horse carriage around to race toward Wangsheng Temple.
Wangsheng Temple was an inner sanctuary that housed fallen, elderly, and ill consorts and palace women who had taken religious vows. It also stored the coffins of many unburied palace inhabitants, and while of moderate size, at least had proper gates and walls. If they could take refuge inside Wangsheng Temple and close the gates, they couldn’t hope to withstand an attack from regular troops, but he figured the twenty-odd guards Yin Tuo had brought wouldn’t have the capability to breach it. This bizarre standoff between Eastern Palace and Daan Palace guards, with the Crown Prince Consort, Princess, and Prince caught in between, couldn’t possibly last long—someone would surely intervene. They just needed to hold out until then.
Their fighting spot wasn’t far from the temple gates. The Crown Prince Consort’s carriage had just left Wangsheng Temple when they encountered Yin Tuo and his men on the road. Li Yuangui drove the horses back several dozen paces and could already see the temple gate, but… something was wrong…
The two massive wooden doors were already tightly shut.
It wasn’t dark yet—why would the temple close so early?
Li Yuangui reined in the horses and leaped down, running to the gate and shouting “Open up!” He pounded on it several times, and finding the sound too weak, reversed his saber to desperately hammer at the gate with its ring pommel.
Between the metallic clanging against the wood and his throat-straining shouts, he thought even the deceased in the temple’s back courtyard—including his mother, Consort Zhang—should have been awakened. But behind the gate remained dead silence, with no response and no sign of anyone coming to open it.
“Fourteenth Uncle…”
A whisper came from the carriage behind him—it was Crown Prince Consort Lady Su’s voice:
“It’s useless. Wangsheng Temple is under Daan Palace’s jurisdiction. The abbess and nuns won’t dare offend Palace Supervisor Yin…”
Li Yuangui froze, stopping his hammering.
He was such a fool.
Though Wangsheng Temple and the Palace Servants’ Slope were some distance from Daan Palace, they were all in the northwest corner of the imperial gardens, under Daan Palace’s administration. Everything the nunnery needed—food, oil, salt, clothing, supplies—all had to pass through Yin Tuo’s hands.
Those in charge would never dare offend this Deputy Palace Supervisor who held real power. Upon discovering the conflict outside, closing the gates early and staying neutral was already the kindest gesture these palace nuns could offer—perhaps only out of consideration for his and his sister’s birth mother who lay in the temple’s back courtyard…
Li Yuangui closed his eyes and looked skyward. What should he do now?
The commotion behind the carriage grew increasingly closer—it seemed the Eastern Palace guards couldn’t hold back the Daan Palace guards, and Yin Tuo was leading his men in pursuit. By now the sunset had almost completely faded, dusk was falling, and the cold wind was rising. Apart from the tightly shut nunnery, there was no defensible position…
Or perhaps there was.
The young prince rallied his spirits, ran back, and jumped onto the carriage, instructing through the window “Seventeenth Sister, put on something warm” before urging the horses to turn, following the temple wall northwest.
Past Wangsheng Temple’s sprawling courtyard lay the wild woodland and burial ground stretching to the Wei River bank. The road wide enough for a two-horse carriage ended here; ahead were only winding footpaths between the grave mounds.
Li Yuangui drove the two horses as far as he could through the thorns and brambles, deeper into the burial ground until the carriage could go no further. He drew his saber to cut the horses’ harnesses and traces, separating them from the carriage while asking back toward the interior:
“Seventeenth Sister? Are you properly dressed?”
“Yes.” His little sister’s timid voice came out, followed by the carriage curtain being lifted. Li Yuangui saw her thin shoulders wrapped in an obviously oversized outer robe with two additional shawls—Lady Su must have given her own clothes to the girl. He cast a grateful glance at the Crown Prince Consort.
Lady Su, wearing only her inner robes, was extremely pale, with disheveled hair at her temples. She asked, “What does Fourteenth Uncle plan to do?”
“I’ll take Seventeenth Sister to hide in the Palace Servants’ Slope,” Li Yuangui pointed at the two horses now freed from their traces. “First we’ll ride away, then dismount and walk to find a hidden spot. It’s already dark, and the area is vast—Yin Tuo and his men won’t be able to find us.”
“I’ll come with you,” Lady Su said without hesitation. “I was commanded by the Empress to escort Seventeenth Sister—I must bring her back safely to Lizheng Hall!”
Li Yuangui understood her good intentions but shook his head: “Thank you, Crown Prince Consort, but it’s no use. The Yin clan only wants to capture us siblings; they won’t trouble you. Please… please find a way to quickly… send word… get someone to rescue us siblings.”
He thought for a moment but couldn’t think where to tell Lady Su to seek help. Daan Palace? That would only make things worse. The inner palace’s Lizheng Hall? The night curfew had begun and palace gates were locked—no one could enter. For the same reason, she couldn’t enter Chang’an city either… if only the Chai father and daughter could come to their aid…
Lady Su was also silent for a moment before resolutely saying: “Alright! I’ll go find someone to come—you must be extremely careful!”
Time was pressing, so Li Yuangui only gave her a quick bow before turning to lift his sister onto one of the horses, then struggling to mount behind her. These carriage horses had no saddles or stirrups; he could only hold his sister with one arm while gripping the horse’s mane with the other. From the corner of his eye, he saw Lady Su climb onto the other unsaddled horse. They exchanged a knowing look before spurring their horses in different directions.
[Note: The “Palace Servants’ Slope” was a burial ground for palace maids, eunuchs, and other palace servants during the Tang dynasty and earlier dynasties that had their capital in the Guanzhong region. Poets like Du Mu and Wang Jian wrote numerous poems about this place. The January 2014 issue of “Tang History Forum” contains an article by Cheng Yi titled “Research on the Location of Tang Dynasty Palace Servants’ Slope and Lingao Post Station,” which places the Palace Servants’ Slope outside Chang’an’s northwest corner, beyond the imperial garden walls—more specifically, near today’s Sanmin Village in Xi’an’s western suburbs.
The name “Wangsheng Temple” is fictional, but it was common practice at the time to have temples near mass burial grounds for conducting ceremonies and temporary storage of coffins. Additionally, high-status coffins in the Tang dynasty looked different from those of recent centuries, as shown in Dunhuang murals and archaeological artifacts.]