Takayama Yoko returned to Chang’an City in a state of extreme calm. She moved out of Yanlai Tower and quietly took up residence in a small courtyard provided by the Court of State Ceremonial. In this small courtyard beside the imperial city, Takayama Yoko washed away her glamorous makeup, applied thick white powder to her face, painted a blood-red small mouth, and drew two oval-shaped eyebrows above her eyes. She sat like a wooden figure in the center of the main hall, receiving prostrations from all the Japanese people.
When the noble lady spoke, it was like the cry of a crane. All the Japanese in the hall shed tears, prostrating themselves on the ground in tearful gratitude. Four eunuchs carried her sedan chair, strolling through Chang’an City. Strong warriors guarded her left and right. Though it appeared extremely strange and caused much discussion among the common people, not a single person associated her with a lowly singing girl anymore. This was a strange foreign noble lady—that’s what all the common people said.
She visited Chang’an’s great scholars one by one, presenting generous gifts. Takayama Yoko observed the etiquette of a disciple when paying her respects, extremely respectful. At each place, several Japanese people requested to study under the great scholars. Once obstructed, they immediately slashed their faces with horizontal blade strokes and requested again. If refused a second time, someone would immediately use a large blade to sever an arm and beg once more. None were refused.
Those fortunate enough to be acknowledged by the Japanese, though dissatisfied with the Japanese people’s brutal methods, felt that having their learning valued enough for the Japanese to sever limbs in pursuit was also a tremendous honor. Educating all under heaven, teaching without discrimination—this was originally Confucius’s very intention.
Yun Ye’s face was frighteningly gloomy. Takayama Yoko had finally understood one principle: submitting to the strong, when one’s own power wasn’t yet great enough to act willfully, taking a step back and seeking learning from enemies was not a shameful thing. Though several arms had been severed, over a hundred people had already successfully entered the tutelage of Chang’an’s great scholars, learning various disciplines—not just Confucianism, but also mathematics and the natural philosophy studies that had risen to prominence in recent years.
The high-end entered schools, the low-end entered the Directorate of Construction, and many monks in black robes from Japan also entered Chang’an’s temples. Yun Ye couldn’t stop it, or rather, his reach didn’t extend that far. At this moment, Yun Ye’s heart was filled with bitterness.
Originally, he had wanted to use the White Jade Capital to attract Takayama Yoko’s attention, making her invest all her energy into the struggle to seize jade tokens. Several hundred Japanese people would quickly be devoured by the White Jade Capital’s flesh-grinding mill. Unexpectedly, after experiencing the most helpless defeat, Takayama Yoko decisively abandoned the enticing target of White Jade Capital and instead steadily started from small things. Since she couldn’t enter the academy, she worked from the periphery. Those thirsty great scholars hadn’t had any worthy disciples for several years. Now encountering a group of such persistent seekers of knowledge, how could they care whether they were countrymen or not?
The Great Tang’s atmosphere was one of inclusiveness and carrying forward the past to open the future. Li Er’s broad-minded nature meant he would never issue edicts of isolation. After suffering setbacks, Takayama Yoko discovered this point and prescribed the right remedy, decisively abandoning the utterly foolish approach of using beauty to please others, forcefully moving history back onto its original track.
With complete etiquette, complete entourage, and accompanied by officials from the Court of State Ceremonial, Takayama Yoko still forced herself to summon courage and came to the Yun Family, preparing to make a final effort.
“Respected Marquis, these twelve students are all the finest young people from Japan. They have thoroughly studied various classics and have gained certain knowledge of the Great Tang’s official system, laws, agriculture, and water conservancy. Yoko can proudly say here that passing the academy’s examinations shouldn’t pose too great a problem for them.”
“Respected Marquis, please with a fair, just, and merciful heart, give them an opportunity to pursue learning. We’ve crossed the seas westward through immense hardship precisely to learn superior knowledge from the Great Tang, so that upon returning we can enlighten our country’s impoverished, ignorant people, letting them no longer associate with wild beasts or dwell among grass and trees.”
“The great Confucius said, ‘In teaching, there are no class distinctions.’ We are all human. The Great Tang has fortunately walked at the forefront of the world. Here it is prosperous and stable, with everyone having their own pursuits. Pitifully, our Japan remains closed-minded, with cruelty, ignorance, and stupidity filling the entire land. Seeing a tree grow tall, we don’t know this is natural law, so we venerate it as a tree god. Seeing ferocious wild beasts, we also honor them as gods. The land of Japan has fully a million gods and demons. This is the product of ignorance.”
“Yoko initially didn’t understand the Great Tang, this great nation, nor did I know of the Marquis Yun’s majesty. Overestimating myself, I tried to move this great nation with feminine beauty, resulting in becoming a laughingstock.”
“Marquis Yun looks down upon our meager wealth. This concubine’s slight beauty, Marquis Yun also regards as nothing. These are the only things we possess. In the eyes of the superior nation, they are childishly laughable. Now you’ve had your laugh, and Yoko knows she was wrong. If you can permit them to enter the academy to study, this concubine is willing to give everything she has to show respect.”
The official from the Court of State Ceremonial was very satisfied. Takayama Yoko’s words were filled with docility and humility, fully displaying a vassal state’s infinite reverence toward the superior nation. That an uncivilized barbarian could speak such emotionally and rationally integrated words was truly not easy. It seemed even Marquis Yun had been moved—his face showed a hesitant expression. Well, if this woman wiped off the white powder and removed the frightening heavy makeup, she was still a pure and lovely beauty. Thinking of the body beneath Takayama Yoko’s wide robes, he immediately felt his whole body grow hot.
Yun Ye maintained his hesitant expression for a long time, yet the Japanese below didn’t begin slashing faces with knives. He really wanted to see whether those people would actually slash faces, sever arms, or cut off heads. If they killed a few this way, that wouldn’t be bad either.
But the Japanese made no move. Yun Ye could only say ill-temperedly: “When you paid respects to Cen Wenben, he merely showed the slightest hesitation on his face and you slashed faces. Why have I hesitated for so long yet you make no move? Do you think my learning is inferior to Cen Wenben’s? Or are you looking down on people with your dog eyes?”
Takayama Yoko sighed, rose, and took her leave, no longer making any effort. Even the official from the Court of State Ceremonial felt regret for Takayama Yoko—add a bit more effort and perhaps Marquis Yun would have agreed.
“I have self-awareness. Master Cen is a kind person. Even if he initially disagreed, as long as he saw the determination of Japan’s students in pursuing learning, he would reluctantly agree. He is a loyal and honest gentleman. The so-called ‘a gentleman can be deceived through proper means’—these methods of demonstrating sincerity are useful with Master Cen, but with you, they have no effect whatsoever. From your eyes I see only mockery and cruelty, not half a trace of compassion for heaven and pity for humanity. Since this is so, why should I let my country’s students suffer merciless humiliation? You truly have a heart of iron and stone.”
After hearing Takayama Yoko’s words, the official from the Court of State Ceremonial looked at Yun Ye with some contempt. If you won’t agree, just don’t agree—why must you watch Japanese arms and heads fly about before being satisfied? What kind of person is this?
Takayama Yoko’s carriage departed without the slightest hesitation. Only at this moment did Yun Ye acknowledge Gai Suwen’s assessment of this woman. She truly was an extraordinary woman with schemes, methods, who could grasp and release.
Since this woman had chosen to submit, she would never again give him any excuse to deal with her. These past days she had already gained unanimous recognition from the Great Tang court—a Japanese princess with whom problems could be discussed and resolved.
What a pity. This woman had slipped right out of his grasp. Regarding foreign talent, Yun Ye felt Cao Cao’s approach was entirely correct—kill one and there’s one fewer.
Gai Suwen, having nowhere to sink his teeth into Yun Ye, this turtle, and with his own ally betraying him, became disheartened. Takayama Yoko, facing Li Er, revealed everything about Gai Suwen’s schemes, requesting His Majesty the Emperor to forgive her foolishness. Li Er flew into a rage, rebuked Takayama Yoko, terminated plans to give Goguryeo some compensation, and ordered the Goguryeo envoys to leave the Great Tang within one month—otherwise they would be imprisoned.
Gai Suwen, seeing Takayama Yoko who had come to see him off, said: “I damaged Goguryeo’s interests to help you achieve your goal. Now perhaps it’s your turn to fulfill your promise.”
Takayama Yoko looked at the surging river waters and threw a jade pendant from her hand into it. Watching it sway and sink to the bottom, she slowly said: “The Great Tang is too powerful—powerful to the point of suffocation. The Goguryeo in Gao Jianwu’s hands is already rotten to the core. Once the Great Tang resolves the hidden dangers in the west, they will march eastward. Goguryeo won’t be a match. Silla might linger on, Baekje will certainly be swallowed by the Great Tang. No one likes having a powerful neighbor nearby, so you needn’t doubt my intentions. If you unify the three kingdoms, remember—only I can become your empress. Only with the combined strength of four nations can we contain the Great Tang’s ambitions. That statement of Yun Ye’s was terrifying: ‘What’s yours is mine, what’s mine is still mine.’ I don’t dare forget this statement for a moment. Only someone arrogant to what degree would speak such shameless words?”
“Yuan Gai Suwen, you are the only person among the three kingdoms whom I can respect. I hope you can succeed. If one day we can march our troops beneath the walls of Chang’an City, I will make Yun Ye obediently teach our children without daring to hold anything back.”
“You still hold hope for him? My opinion—the moment you see this person, kill him immediately. Don’t let him live for even a moment.” Gai Suwen didn’t look at Takayama Yoko but gazed sorrowfully in the direction of the Yun Family estate.
“Ronghua can’t turn back anymore. Whether or not she betrayed you, she can’t turn back. Those words before the palace gates have already severed the possibility of her returning to Goguryeo. From now on, you just need to think of me in your heart. There’s still time now. If you want my body, I can give it to you. No matter what, from now on, only I will be your empress.”
Gai Suwen’s pupils contracted like needle points. With one step he mounted the gangplank, walked onto the ship, and looking at Takayama Yoko said: “Three years. Give me three years. I will marry you with the most ceremonious rites, because that is what you deserve.”
Takayama Yoko removed her veil and said with a smile: “Look clearly at this face. This is the face of your empress. No matter how many women you have, the empress can only be the owner of this face. When I return to Japan, I will exert all efforts to persuade my father the emperor to help you. My own private troops can also be entirely handed over to you. Gai Suwen, don’t disappoint me.”
The ship departed, taking away a future emperor—or something else. Yun Ye stood in the forest, gazing at Gai Suwen from afar. Beside him stood Ronghua. Looking at the tear-streaked Ronghua, Yun Ye said with a smile: “You will become Goguryeo’s new empress. Definitely.”