Running to play in mountain gullies in the dead of winter was also Yun Ye’s helpless measure. People constantly came to his home requesting that he go to the palace to apologize, especially Xu Jingzong, who was nearly kneeling before Yun Ye. In his view, this master was simply having a quarrel with the Emperor. As long as the Emperor’s anger subsided, immediately there would be clear skies for ten thousand miles, gentle winds and beautiful sunshine. Early in the morning before Yun Ye had even left his home, he was already blocked inside by a large group of people.
“Marquis Yun, please just make one trip to the palace. I’ve already prepared the gifts. You only need to mount Wang Cai and go to the palace. Even if you don’t see His Majesty, you could go to Her Majesty’s place, make an appearance and pay respects—that would do, wouldn’t it? Her Majesty is your teacher. Yielding to her isn’t shameful!”
Behind each person stood a long string of interest groups. He himself didn’t care about imperial favor, but these people couldn’t live without it. In just two short months, the income of every household had decreased by a large portion.
Qin Da was there, and Cheng Chumo’s mother was there too. Everyone hoped Yun Ye would make a trip to the palace. They just needed him to enter the palace and let outsiders see—to prevent rumors flying everywhere and affecting business.
Yun Ye could completely treat Xu Jingzong’s words as hot air, but when Madam Cheng wiped away tears while speaking under Xinyue’s care, Yun Ye could only stand up irritably, rush into the inner residence to change clothes. He didn’t wear official robes, just wore the academy’s cotton gown—whoever designed it, thick and bulky, extremely ugly.
When Madam Cheng saw Yun Ye wearing this, she started shedding tears again. This wasn’t going to pay respects—this was going to lose face. Didn’t the household have all kinds of fur cloaks? Why must he pick the most shabby one?
“This is it. If anyone dares make me change clothes, I won’t go!”
“Very good, very good. The academy’s clothes—they don’t count as shabby. Go like this. Remember, in the basket is an agate inkstone. The image of mother and children playing on it represents Her Majesty and her seven children. You absolutely must not give it to the wrong person.”
“This piece of Western Regions warm jade is for Yang Fei. The mutton-fat jade is for Yin Fei. You’d best deliver them one by one—they’re all valuable items. As for His Majesty, don’t you have a very large warhorse? The one captured from Yusuf’s hands—just give it to His Majesty. Oh heavens, we’re all living by watching His Majesty’s expression. How dare you lose your temper!”
“It’s gone. I gave the big horse to Chumo. I don’t have it here.”
“I brought it for you and decorated it a bit. Chumo has been confined to his quarters by me.” Madam Cheng said through gritted teeth.
Worried that Yun Ye would run away halfway, Madam Cheng specially escorted Yun Ye to the palace gates. Seeing him enter the palace with the items, only then did she breathe a long sigh of relief. Watching Yun Ye’s retreating figure, she sighed and said to herself: “After all, he’s young. Once his temper rises, he disregards everything.”
Wang Cai could enter the palace—this was a special exception, mainly because the Empress liked Wang Cai’s foolish and naive appearance. Originally very tall, when Wang Cai stood together with that captured giant horse, it gave the impression of being a donkey.
The horseshoes struck the stone slabs with resounding clangs. Silver-white sparks flashed and vanished. Yun Ye himself led the two horses walking in the corridor. Two eunuchs carried gifts following behind.
It wasn’t that he liked leading horses, but because Wang Cai was very disobedient. If a stranger led it, it would kick people. It also liked to go to the imperial palace’s frozen-solid pools to smell the dried lotus seed pods.
This large Don horse was actually very gentle. Although entirely ink-black and draped with horse armor by Madam Cheng, making it look like a primordial fierce beast, it obediently followed behind Yun Ye, shuffling step by step, very fearful of Wang Cai.
Today was a sunny, beautiful day. Empress Zhangsun wore a cloak and was leading a large group of palace maids and eunuchs strolling in the palace gardens. A sharp-eyed young palace maid discovered Yun Ye standing among the trees and hurriedly pointed him out to the Empress.
“So it’s Wang Cai!” Zhangsun walked straight over. The behavior of only greeting the horse and ignoring the person was extremely terrible.
Wang Cai had seen the Empress countless times and knew this person couldn’t be provoked. It hurriedly lowered its long face to make it easier for the Empress to pet. Zhangsun gently patted Wang Cai’s forehead while saying softly: “Wang Cai is still well-behaved. After seeing me a few times, it remembered this palace. Even livestock have more sentiment than people—not like some bastard things who went out once and after returning haven’t shown much improvement in ability but their temper has gotten much worse.”
“The clever and smart should have rewards. There’s no reason those who randomly lose their temper shouldn’t be punished. Mei Gu, I remember Wang Cai most likes to eat fruit. Take that plate of green pears over and invite it to eat.”
Wang Cai, who had been throwing a tantrum just moments ago, saw a plate of green pears, stretched its neck, and followed that alluring female official, its upper lip already curled up.
Having rewarded the obedient one, naturally she would punish the disobedient one. Yun Ye believed he was that disobedient one.
“Why aren’t you speaking? Wang Cai can’t speak—can’t you either?” Empress Zhangsun’s phoenix eyes were nearly standing upright.
“This disciple truly doesn’t know what to say. At the Lantern Festival banquet, my brain had a spasm and I spoke those bastard words. Recently killing people in the desert aroused my violent nature. I couldn’t control myself. After returning, I wanted to properly cultivate my mind and nature for a while. When all is said and done, this disciple’s cultivation is insufficient, making you angry. This disciple accepts punishment.” Yun Ye hurriedly explained to Zhangsun. Before Zhangsun, you’d best admit your mistakes while she was angry. Once Zhangsun employed emotional tactics and shed tears, matters became troublesome—absolutely not something you could get past by admitting an error. Yun Ye had long suffered such treatment.
“This is also one explanation. This palace heard that all who go to desert wastelands will contract some bad temper, and people will also gain a few portions of malevolent energy. Upon returning to prosperous places, they should recuperate for a while longer. Have you recovered from your recuperation now? I heard during this period you’ve been flying eagles and riding horses quite carefree.” Zhangsun looked at Yun Ye’s complexion and asked.
“It can’t be turned around in a short time. This time being a great general lasted too long. Every sentence spoken daily was related to killing people. My mind was also full of severed limbs. Single-mindedly wanting to bring death to enemies, over time I lost patience. This student sometimes wonders if I’ve truly become a pure soldier, thus finding court methods extremely detestable.”
Zhangsun nodded: “Saying it this way makes it understandable. After His Majesty previously commanded great armies in battle and returned, his temper was also very violent, his malevolent energy also heavy. Everyone knows heavy malevolent energy is bad, but which great general doesn’t kill people? This is originally a position for killing.”
“I don’t know what’s happening, but recently the court’s malevolent energy is indeed very heavy. East, south, west, and north are all settling accounts, all killing people. Silla’s royal family has nearly been killed off completely. Baekje’s king fled to Wa. Zhinu also turned hostile in Liaodong and began large-scale raids killing those savages. Originally thinking Liu Renyuan returned and the south would stabilize, who knew nobles throughout the world would take their own merchant ships and cross the strait again. I truly don’t know what they want those blood-soaked copper coins for…”
Yun Ye accompanied the Empress into Liangyi Hall. Zhangsun rarely ordered female officials to prepare several delicate dishes and wine. She herself sat in the place of honor, raised her cup and said: “This cup is for your bloody battles in the Western Regions. The blood courage of Great Tang men has been displayed by you to the fullest. This palace congratulates General Yun!”
Yun Ye left his seat, raised his cup with both hands, loudly answered “Acknowledged!” and drained the wine in one gulp.
Zhangsun beckoned Yun Ye to sit closer, filled another cup of wine for him and said: “Do you know at the most difficult moment for our dynasty, how precious your report of great victory over the Turks was?”
“At that time, Guo Xiaoke was defeated and killed with his entire army annihilated. Zhang Jian and you were trapped in heavy encirclement, uncertain from morning to night. Qibi retreated step by step under savage attacks. His Majesty consecutively issued three conscription orders within half a month. Guanzhong men successively donned armor preparing to campaign. The wailing of women and children shook Xianyang Bridge. The entire Chang’an showed no joy. People throughout the realm were even more anxious. Suddenly hearing that your divine might greatly shone, with few defeating many, beating the Turkic-Tubo allied forces into fleeing at the sight of wind, blood staining the vast sea, wherever the great army reached not leaving an inch of grass, the Western Regions were thus pacified. This palace again congratulates the General!”
Yun Ye raised his wine cup thinking of various desert matters. Before his eyes floated countless familiar figures. Thinking again of himself standing on Kucha’s city walls seeing corpses covering the ground, and that moment of seeing Guo Xiaoke’s skeletal remains, tears suddenly burst from his eyes. Hot tears dripped into the wine cup and he drank it all in one gulp—indescribable bitterness and satisfaction.
Zhangsun drained her cup of wine and filled it again for Yun Ye. This time lacking the Empress’s authority and dominance, adding a trace of gentleness, she slowly said: “At that time I was at Laojun Temple praying for blessings for our Great Tang soldiers. The realm was turbulent. How could my heart not be like frying in oil? Helpless, I went to Laojun Temple seeking solace. When Chang’an City’s cheering sounds reached Jianfu Temple, I hurriedly rose from the shrine hall, grasped the great door and strived to listen to the outside cheering. I very much wanted to know exactly which general had achieved such world-covering merit for our Great Tang.”
“Duan Hong came—such an expert, yet on a fifty-zhang long road he actually stumbled three times. Before his body even rose, he shouted to me: Great victory at Kucha! Marquis Yun beheaded one hundred thousand in battle!”
“At that moment my heart finally settled. My entire body felt as if bones had been removed, powerless. I only knew to continuously strike the threshold shouting: Excellent, excellent, good child! At that moment, I, the Great Tang’s Empress, felt supreme glory! Because this victory was a great triumph my disciple achieved in the most harsh circumstances!”
“Xiao Ye, come. Your teacher congratulates Yun Ye!”
Three full cups of strong wine went down. Zhangsun’s face turned pink. She continuously inquired of Yun Ye about Western Regions matters—from local customs to Guo Xiaoke’s bloody battle, from the discovery of the Immortal Lands to the establishment of the Queen Mother of the West’s shrine. Sometimes Yun Ye spoke sorrowfully and teacher and disciple wept bitterly together. Sometimes speaking of humorous moments, both laughed heartily.
All the palace servants passing Liangyi Hall involuntarily lightened their footsteps, fearing to disturb the two people’s conversation.
Li Er came and stood outside the great hall listening for quite a while. Smiling and nodding, he ordered eunuchs to serve them well. He himself turned with hands behind his back and went to Wanmin Palace. Today’s Liangyi Hall did not belong to him.