“From now on, you must distinguish clearly between people! Which people can be used, and which people should be lifelong friends—you cannot live your life as a solitary despot. When you grow old in the future, you’ll discover yourself unbearably lonely. Even if you stand at the highest place, you’ll find life utterly boring. You must remember this.”
“Since you’re determined to rebuild Bai Yujing, your master doesn’t oppose it. If you like it, then go play. Master will tell you once more: Bai Yujing doesn’t exist, so you can exhaust your imagination to fantasize about your world, then construct it into living reality. This is actually the process of realizing a dream. You absolutely must not regard Bai Yujing as more important than your own life. If that’s the case, it would be better not to establish Bai Yujing at all. Games and life are, after all, two different things.”
After saying these words, Yun Ye felt somewhat melancholy. The children had now grown up and all had their own thoughts. Xiao Wu was now completely obsessed, thinking about nothing but Bai Yujing all day long, constantly wanting to know the details of Bai Yujing from him. At first, Yun Ye had treated it as a woman’s curiosity and fabricated some stories to tell her. Who knew she was now constructing her own Bai Yujing based on the matters he had described.
No matter how much Yun Ye lamented the swift passage of time, the sun, moon, and stars still revolved according to their own patterns. The Lantern Festival arrived as scheduled, and all of Chang’an once again fell into a moment of flowing light and overflowing colors.
This year, the Great Tang could be described as having favorable weather and bountiful harvests. Ships from across the ocean brought back large quantities of rare treasures from foreign tribes, and generals at the borders also sent countless reports of victory. The Great Tang now no longer cared much about having ten thousand nations come to pay tribute, because there really weren’t enough vassal states to gather for paying homage to Li Er. Finding some natives to come join the festivities would be too embarrassing. The Huihe people of the Northern Sea were hiding and couldn’t be found. The Great General Sun Renshi of the Beiting Protectorate wanted to find some authentic foreign beauties to present to the Emperor and have them sing and dance on Lantern Festival night, but he couldn’t even accomplish this. As a result, he was praised as worthless by Old Cheng and the others, almost comparable to the Four Great Wastes of Chang’an.
Marquis Yun’s horse, the Great General’s blade, the Dongting Lake navy, and the waist of the Sixteenth Prince—these were the latest Four Great Wastes. Marquis Yun’s horse was extraordinarily precious but wasn’t meant for riding. The Dongting Lake navy could only circle around and around on the lake without any use whatsoever; even transporting grain would result in them being capsized by the wind. In a peaceful world without war, they still reported losses of over three hundred and had been denounced by people throughout the empire as worthless.
As for the Great General’s blade, this allusion came from the Great General of the Xiaowei, Liang Jianfang. He had once caressed his horizontal blade in a brothel, saying this thing had become worthless, with no more opportunity to drink human blood deeply.
The Sixteenth Prince had quietly returned to Chang’an, arranged by Zhangsun to live in the Sixteenth Prince’s mansion. From then on, he closed his doors and disappeared without a trace. The common people had initially expected the Sixteenth Prince to expand territory and open frontiers in the Western Regions. Now that he had returned in disgrace, he had become synonymous with incompetence and worthlessness. When people passed by the Sixteenth Prince’s mansion, they would spit, believing he had diminished the Great Tang’s illustrious heavenly might.
Zhangsun didn’t see it this way. She smiled as she accepted the Sixteenth Prince’s obeisance. Without waiting for Li Er to speak, she inquired after his well-being with concern. In front of all the officials, she issued her own decree, allocating three hundred thousand silver coins from the Inner Treasury to reward the Sixteenth Prince.
Li Er, however, kept a black face and said nothing. The couple performed the red and white faces with divine skill. Whether it was rewarding mansions or silver, their princely ranks had truly disappeared from the Imperial Jade Register, and the Office of the Imperial Clan had no more records of them either. If nothing unexpected happened, this would be their last time seeing the Emperor’s countenance.
Li Yuanxiang’s corpulent body had long since vanished; he was now thin as a stick, his lips trembling as he wanted to plead, but he retreated under Li Er’s eagle-like gaze. Clutching the property deeds, land deeds, and vouchers for silver granted by the Empress, he wailed and cried as he left Wanmin Palace.
The hundred officials still wore beaming smiles, cupping their hands to each other in New Year congratulations, pretending not to see this scene. However, some vassal princes who had come to the capital were each terrified, their faces unable to look any more unpleasant.
Zhangsun Chong, who had gone out for over half a year and been nearly blown into a black man by the sand and wind, grinned with white teeth to congratulate Yun Ye. Yun Ye likewise cupped his hands in congratulation. Since everyone now had dealings again, keeping up appearances was still necessary. Zhangsun Wuji, who had never missed previous years, was ill today and staying home.
With a single command from Li Er, the grand banquet in Wanmin Palace commenced. Countless beautiful palace maids carried various delicacies, fine wines, and fresh fruit, filing out from both sides of the great hall. In an instant, the hall became a place filled with the fragrance of wine. Li Er shouted “Drink to victory!” and the assembled ministers responded with mountain-like cheers. After three rounds of wine, the Great Tang’s music director gave a clear call, and all around fell silent as a crow. Everyone knew “Music of the Qin Prince Breaking the Battle Formation” was about to begin. Although they had seen it countless times, the ministers were still full of enthusiasm and anticipation.
“Receiving orders to depart from the sovereign, together we went to punish rebellious ministers. All sing ‘Music of Breaking the Battle Formation,’ together appreciating the people of peace. The imperial wind covers the four seas; for a thousand years the virtue water is clear. Military garments need no longer be worn; today we announce success achieved. The sage ruler opens a prosperous calendar; loyal ministers serve the great plan. Look at what comes after weapons are laid down—it is the peaceful autumn of great tranquility.”
When these lyrics emerged, Yun Ye knew Li Er had finally completed this “Music of the Qin Prince Breaking the Battle Formation.” His leisure time had been almost entirely consumed by this. He had personally choreographed this musical piece into a dance, which after processing and arrangement by court artists, became a massive, magnificent large-scale musical dance. Into the original melody was incorporated Kucha tones, melodious and pleasant to hear, soaring and extremely inspiring. At the same time, a large court orchestra accompanied it. Great drums shook the heavens, their sound carrying over a hundred li, the momentum grand and moving heaven and earth.
In contrast to civil dance was martial dance. “Music of the Qin Prince Breaking the Battle Formation” was standard martial dance. One hundred twenty-eight musicians wore armor and held halberds, rotating freely in the center of the great hall. Although lacking the killing aura of the battlefield, it was still grand and expansive.
Yun Ye barely managed to endure until those several enormous cowhide drums were no longer deafening, when a young figure appeared in the center of the great hall. Very young, yet wearing an official’s cap, his tender voice carried a northern accent. Yun Ye smiled slightly—Lu Zhaolin had finally begun his glorious youth.
“The great roads of Chang’an connect with narrow lanes; green oxen and white horses pull seven-fragrance carriages. Jade chariots crisscross past noble mansions, golden whips continuously head toward marquis homes. Dragons clasp jeweled canopies receiving the morning sun; phoenixes spit out flowing tassels bringing evening glow. Hundred-zhang floating threads compete to wrap around trees; a group of delicate birds together cry at flowers. Crying at flowers, playing butterflies by a thousand gates; jade trees and silver terraces of ten thousand colors. Covered walkways and crossing windows form harmonious patterns; twin towers with connecting eaves hang phoenix wings. The Liang family’s painted pavilion rises mid-heaven; the Han Emperor’s golden pillars stand straight beyond the clouds. Before the towers they gaze at each other without recognition…”
This was the famous “Ancient Meaning of Chang’an.” No wonder Li Er would present Lu Zhaolin after “Music of the Qin Prince Breaking the Battle Formation.” Such a long poem that subtly contained satire yet painted a vivid picture of a prosperous age was indeed rare. Yun Ye very much doubted how such a young boy could compose such a long poem.
Seeing Lu Zhaolin smugly accept praise, Yun Ye discovered this fellow’s temperament still hadn’t changed. Perhaps it was the pair of white jade ruyi scepters bestowed by the Emperor and Empress that stimulated certain people.
Behind Prince Dao Li Yuanqing, who was obediently sitting at the side watching songs and dances, stood up an emaciated man. By his appearance, he should be Prince Dao’s most trusted retainer. Now that Prince Dao’s princely rank had been abolished, his official position was also gone.
He walked on his own to the center of the great hall, bowed to Li Er and his consort, and said, “Although ‘Ancient Meaning of Chang’an’ is good, this guilty minister has also composed an ‘Imperial Capital Poem’ and wishes to ask Your Majesty to appreciate it.”
Everyone craned their necks to look at this middle-aged man. A long robe worn on his body looked like clothes draped on a bamboo pole. His complexion was dark, bearing an obvious desert dust atmosphere.
Prince Dao had already been found guilty; jumping out at this time was really not a good moment. Prince Dao Li Yuanqing was already anxious with a flushed face, afraid of angering Li Er and making his own fate even more tragic.
Li Er looked down at this person and asked those around him, “Who is this person?”
Without waiting for others to answer, the man loudly reported, “Guilty minister, Luo Binwang!”
“What ability do you have? Could it be that the wind and sand of the Western Regions still haven’t erased your arrogant heart?” Li Er’s opening words aimed at the heart.
“This guilty minister could speak at one year old and compose poetry at seven. The way of poetry and verse is a minor path, that’s all!”
Li Er stopped Duan Hong who was about to verbally rebuke Luo Binwang, and laughed loudly, saying, “Such words, I have heard before. That fellow swallowed poetry whole and alive, but the poems he wrote each surprised me, so I don’t look down on you. If you can truly astonish me, you need not enter the Sixteenth Prince’s mansion and can serve in the Secretariat, attending at my side. If you cannot, the consequences are hard to predict!”
Old Cheng, sitting beside Yun Ye, poked him and asked in a low voice, “How is this person? Can he compare to little Linzi?”
Yun Ye was now filled with anticipation, very much wanting to see what kind of performance this talented man who once scolded Wu Zetian until she was covered in blood could have in the Zhenguan court. Hearing Old Cheng’s words, he smiled and said, “Chess meets chess, generals meet worthy opponents!”
Old Cheng doubtfully said “Oh,” and spoke no more. He never doubted Yun Ye’s words, and his heart was filled with worry—after all, Lu Zhaolin was his own relative.
“This guilty minister no longer has anything good to lose. Six years of desert wind and dust, wife and children all dead—only this guilty minister has survived until now. The Sixteenth Prince’s mansion is also a good destination for me. This guilty minister doesn’t seek pardon; I just don’t want to see a yellow-mouthed child rely on one or two poems to obtain high office and ride fine horses.”
“This guilty minister deeply knows that whether marching and fighting or governing the people’s livelihood, poetry is of no use whatsoever. This guilty minister is deeply ashamed of being unable to defeat enemies and expand territory in the desert, instead losing armies and disgracing the nation. Please, gentlemen, take me as a warning!”
Li Er squinted at Luo Binwang. The coldness on his face was gone. What he loved most were loyal ministers and men of integrity. Luo Binwang’s words were very much to his taste.
“Mountains and rivers, a thousand-li nation; city walls and towers, nine-fold gates. Not seeing the imperial palace’s magnificence, how can one know the Son of Heaven’s honor? The imperial palace in the capital lies at Xiao and Han valleys; Chun wilderness and Dragon Mountain in the marquis’ domains. Five planets connect their shadows gathering at the celestial lodge; eight waters divide their flows crossing the earth’s axis. Qin’s passes and barriers number one hundred and two; Han family detached palaces thirty-six. Cassia palaces tower opposite jade towers; pepper chambers connect in seclusion to golden houses. Three roads and nine thoroughfares line the city corners; ten thousand households and thousand gates open at dawn. Covered paths slope connecting to the Magpie Observatory; intersecting roads point directly to Phoenix Terrace. Sword and shoes enter the southern palace; tassels and caps come to the northern gate. Fame crowns the world; culture and artifacts resemble glorious brilliance…”