“Keep it in your heart, never to forget.”
The Cuijin Tower, the most bustling and prosperous place in the capital, was once again filled with guests today.
“Honored guests, this old one has come to tell stories again. Ah, let me tell you about how the late Emperor passed away in Xianning Palace, and the new Emperor ascended to the throne before his coffin. Do you know who supported the late Emperor’s succession?”
The crowd immediately discussed in unison: “Who else could it be? Naturally, it was His Highness, Prince Kui!”
The storyteller struck his drum once and said: “Indeed! Since the beginning of this year, the entire court has been in uproar, all saying that Prince Kui intended to overthrow our great Tang dynasty. But who knew that after the late Emperor’s dragon spirit returned to heaven, it would be Prince Kui who welcomed the young Emperor from the Eastern Palace to ascend the throne? Such unwavering loyalty, who could have known? Truly, like Duke Zhou who feared daily rumors! Think about it, when rumors said he killed Prince E and was possessed by evil spirits plotting to usurp the throne, who knew the truth!”
“Prince Kui has always been the pillar of the Li Tang royal family! After the late Emperor’s passing, isn’t it him who’s supporting the young Emperor?”
“Speaking of which, Empress Wang—oh no, should be Empress Dowager Wang now, wasn’t she frequently involved in state affairs before? They used to say ‘The Emperor is revered, the Empress is martial,’ what’s happened now?”
Amidst the discussions, the storyteller struck his drum again. When the hall fell silent, he continued: “Let me tell you what happened. Though humble, I have sharp ears and eyes and got early news. When the late Emperor was about to pass, Empress Wang attended to him. The Emperor asked her, ‘After my dragon spirit departs, how will you manage?’ Empress Wang wept and said, ‘Your servant can only follow Your Majesty.'”
“The Empress died?” someone quickly asked.
“Of course not. His Majesty persuaded her, saying the young Emperor still needed your care, how could you let him lose both parents in his youth? Though Empress Wang abandoned thoughts of following His Majesty, she was ultimately overcome with grief. Like Imperial Consort Chen of Emperor Xuanzong before her, she fell into madness from sorrow, now living in seclusion in the traveling palace, likely never to recover in this life.”
“Unexpected indeed, to think Empress Wang and His Majesty shared such deep feelings.” The crowd sighed in admiration.
On the second floor’s elegant seats, Zhou Ziqin, wearing orange brocade robes with purple-blue inner garments and a pomegranate red belt, drew in a sharp breath. He quickly turned to Li Shubai and Huang Zixia: “Did you hear that? Did you hear that? Did you hear that?”
“We heard,” Huang Zixia said calmly.
“How is this possible? Do you think it’s possible? How could someone as strong and ruthless as Empress Wang go mad with grief over the late Emperor?”
Li Shubai silently pointed at the window. Zhou Ziqin understood and quickly shut the doors and windows with a “bang.” Huang Zixia lifted the wine pot to pour him half a cup, saying softly: “His Majesty knew he wouldn’t live long, so he asked Wang Zongshi for an Agashnie fish egg. It was originally meant for Prince Kui, but later, was given to Empress Wang instead.”
Zhou Ziqin gasped and asked: “Did Wang Zongshi know that His Majesty wanted to… to harm Empress Wang? Why didn’t he stop His Majesty?”
Huang Zixia and Li Shubai exchanged glances, both thinking that Empress Wang wasn’t really from the Wang family, just their pawn placed beside the Emperor. Now that Wang Fu’s son Li Xun had successfully ascended the throne, Wang Shao, or rather Mei Wanzhi, had served her purpose. What good would it do them if she continued living?
“Ah, this Agashnie is so frightening, now I carefully check my water every time before drinking,” he said, looking down at his cup, and only drinking after finding no red spots. “It’s such a hassle, let’s quickly return to Shu. At least there shouldn’t be people raising such fish there.”
“Don’t worry, Imperial Eunuch Wang has left,” Huang Zixia said but unconsciously checked her cup, still apprehensive.
“Left? Where to?” he quickly asked.
“New emperor, new court. Now the young Emperor is close to Tian Lingzi. Wang’s Shence Army suffered heavy casualties recently, and after a memorial was submitted, the Shence Army changed its military commander. Now Tian Lingzi has taken the position.”
“The Shence Army suffered heavy casualties… what happened?” Zhou Ziqin quickly asked.
Li Shubai looked up at the sky, while Huang Zixia pointed downstairs saying: “Seems they’re talking about something interesting again, want to listen?”
Zhou Ziqin immediately forgot his previous question and quickly opened the window facing the courtyard. Indeed, they had started discussing another matter—
“With the new Emperor’s ascension, the capital’s military forces are frequently changing commanders. Not to mention the Shence Army’s affairs, just look at Prince Kui’s Shenwei and Shenwu armies, it’s truly surprising. They say those willing to return home are given ten times the silver and ten mu of land in their hometown, well settled; while those willing to continue their military service, if they want to stay in the capital, are merged into the Imperial Guards, or if they want to fight, can go to Longxi. They have the most experience fighting the Uighurs, so victory in this return campaign will naturally come soon. The vanguard against the Uighurs this time is Commander Wang of the Imperial Guards, Wang Yun of the Wang family of Langya.”
The listeners immediately burst into discussion, some saying Prince Kui was dispelling the new Emperor’s suspicions by giving up military power, unsure whether to admire or sigh; others envied how serving under Prince Kui was rewarding, with ten mu of land and tenfold money upon retirement; more spoke admiringly of how Wang Yun was now the most promising descendant of the Wang family, surprisingly choosing military service over court life, truly showing great ambition…
“Wang Yun is leaving? We should go see him off.” Zhou Ziqin said, seeing Huang Zixia’s somewhat awkward expression, suddenly remembering she was supposed to marry Wang Yun before, even trying on wedding clothes. He felt more awkward than her and quickly changed the subject, “This, this… the weather is nice today, even the tea seems especially good…”
“Stop drinking tea, it’s almost noon, I’ll take you to eat,” Huang Zixia said, rising gracefully and gesturing to Li Shubai.
Li Shubai smiled slightly and said: “Let’s go.”
Zhou Ziqin was immediately dumbfounded: “No way? We finally meet and you just treat me to tea? Not even a meal? At least give me some porridge, a pancake…”
Huang Zixia followed Li Shubai out, saying: “Come with us! What you’ll eat later will satisfy you completely, making you happier than a hundred meals at Cuijin Tower.”
“I don’t believe it! How could there be such delicious food in the world?”
“I… I don’t believe it! How could there be such delicious food in the world?!”
In Prince Zhao’s flower hall, peach and plum blossoms bloomed on all sides, willow branches swept the banks, and grass grew tender and green. However, no one had time to appreciate the scenery now, especially Zhou Ziqin, his mouth stuffed full of gulou zi, left hand holding one piece, right hand gripping another, eyes fixed on one more on the table.
Prince Zhao Li Bing laughed heartily, slapping the table as he asked: “So Ziqin, tell me, is this the best gulou zi you’ve ever eaten in your life?”
“Mmm! It could be… tied for first!” He swallowed his mouthful, drank half a cup of tea to catch his breath, and said, “It’s on par with what Diicui made at Zhang Er’s place back then!”
Huang Zixia held a crispy piece of gulou zi, exchanging smiles with Li Shubai, and asked him softly: “What do you think?”
“Mm, indeed quite good,” Li Shubai nodded.
Prince Zhao proudly said: “Fourth Brother, you don’t know! After I ate a gulou zi in Puning Ward, I was obsessed, completely enchanted! But unfortunately, the girl who made the gulou zi only liked that silly boy from Puning Ward, I couldn’t even recruit her!”
“You want everything you see? You even tried to take Zixia from me before,” Li Shubai laughed, turning to look at Huang Zixia.
Prince Zhao quickly raised his hand, saying: “I wouldn’t dare! I, your ninth brother, was truly ignorant then, I thought she was a young eunuch! If I had known she was Prince Kui’s wife, I wouldn’t have dared even if you killed me!”
Huang Zixia’s cheeks couldn’t help but flush red, and she lowered her head in silence.
But Li Shubai calmly wiped his hands and said: “Good that you understand. In the future, when eyeing someone, first check who they belong to.”
Prince Zhao and Zhou Ziqin exchanged glances, both showing expressions of toothache.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Zhou Ziqin quickly found a topic to discuss with Prince Zhao: “Your Highness Prince Zhao, I wonder how you invited this Gulou zi master?”
“Oh, that’s quite complicated. When she heard it was for Prince Kui, she said after making the Gulou zi, she would change clothes and come pay her respects, why hasn’t she come yet?” Prince Zhao looked into the peach and plum trees while casually saying, “Speaking of which, the person who introduced her, you definitely know too, it was Prince Consort Wei.”
“Prince Consort Wei… Wei Baoheng?” Zhou Ziqin immediately jumped up, remembering something, and stuttered: “Could it be… could it be that the person who made the Gulou zi is, is…”
Before he could finish, they saw a slender, petite figure walking through the deep peach blossoms on the small path, wearing cyan narrow-sleeved silk robes, a jade butterfly in her hair, a maiden as fresh as a green peach, though her face was shrouded in some inescapable melancholy.
She walked before them, curtsied gracefully, and said softly: “Diicui pays respects to Prince Kui, and Prince Zhao, and greets Miss Huang and Young Master Zhou.”
Huang Zixia quickly stood up, helped her up, and brushed the grass leaves from her knees. The others just smiled without speaking, only Zhou Ziqin’s mouth formed a perfect circle as he gasped: “Miss… Miss Lü!”
Diicui nodded slightly to him, standing quietly beside Huang Zixia holding her hand. Seeing that though she was thinner, her expression seemed fine overall, Huang Zixia finally felt relieved and asked: “Are you doing well?”
Diicui’s eyes couldn’t help but cloud with a thin layer of moisture, but she held back her tears, only gripping her hand lightly and saying softly: “Thank you for your concern, Miss Huang… I should have died, I even thought of going to the Grand Court of Justice to turn myself in and end my life. But later Prince Consort Wei persuaded me, saying my father gave everything for me, and Second Brother Zhang also… surely wouldn’t want to see me take my life so lightly. My life was exchanged with theirs, I… must treasure myself.”
Huang Zixia gently stroked her hair, saying softly: “That you can think this way, your father and Second Brother Zhang would surely be comforted if they knew in the underworld.”
Diicui bit her lower lip, nodded silently, and lifted her hand to wipe away her tears.
Seeing her low spirits, Huang Zixia turned to Zhou Ziqin and said: “Ziqin, now you know? The world’s best gulou zi still belongs to Diicui.”
“Mm mm, Diicui’s second, no one dares claim first!” Zhou Ziqin nodded vigorously, and to prove it, stuffed another large piece into his mouth.
Seeing his high praise, Diicui managed to give them a faint smile. Prince Zhao saw Huang Zixia sit back beside Li Shubai and asked: “Fourth Brother, you and Miss Huang must be close to your happy day, right?”
“Yes, early next month on the sixth, the Huang family elders have already started arriving in the capital,” Li Shubai said.
“What? So soon?” Prince Zhao and Zhou Ziqin blurted out in unison, even their tones identical.
After looking at each other, Prince Zhao immediately said: “Those palace ladies are particularly annoying! When my concubine was having a baby, she came chattering endlessly every day, so irritating!”
“Keep it in your heart, never to forget.”
The Cuijin Tower, the most bustling and prosperous place in the capital, was once again filled with guests today.
“Honored guests, this old one has come to tell stories again. Ah, let me tell you about how the late Emperor passed away in Xianning Palace, and the new Emperor ascended to the throne before his coffin. Do you know who supported the late Emperor’s succession?”
The crowd immediately discussed in unison: “Who else could it be? Naturally, it was His Highness, Prince Kui!”
The storyteller struck his drum once and said: “Indeed! Since the beginning of this year, the entire court has been in uproar, all saying that Prince Kui intended to overthrow our great Tang dynasty. But who knew that after the late Emperor’s dragon spirit returned to heaven, it would be Prince Kui who welcomed the young Emperor from the Eastern Palace to ascend the throne? Such unwavering loyalty, who could have known? Truly, like Duke Zhou who feared daily rumors! Think about it, when rumors said he killed Prince E and was possessed by evil spirits plotting to usurp the throne, who knew the truth!”
“Prince Kui has always been the pillar of the Li Tang royal family! After the late Emperor’s passing, isn’t it him who’s supporting the young Emperor?”
“Speaking of which, Empress Wang—oh no, should be Empress Dowager Wang now, wasn’t she frequently involved in state affairs before? They used to say ‘The Emperor is revered, the Empress is martial,’ what’s happened now?”
Amidst the discussions, the storyteller struck his drum again. When the hall fell silent, he continued: “Let me tell you what happened. Though humble, I have sharp ears and eyes and got early news. When the late Emperor was about to pass, Empress Wang attended to him. The Emperor asked her, ‘After my dragon spirit departs, how will you manage?’ Empress Wang wept and said, ‘Your servant can only follow Your Majesty.'”
“The Empress died?” someone quickly asked.
“Of course not. His Majesty persuaded her, saying the young Emperor still needed your care, how could you let him lose both parents in his youth? Though Empress Wang abandoned thoughts of following His Majesty, she was ultimately overcome with grief. Like Imperial Consort Chen of Emperor Xuanzong before her, she fell into madness from sorrow, now living in seclusion in the traveling palace, likely never to recover in this life.”
“Unexpected indeed, to think Empress Wang and His Majesty shared such deep feelings.” The crowd sighed in admiration.
On the second floor’s elegant seats, Zhou Ziqin, wearing orange brocade robes with purple-blue inner garments and a pomegranate red belt, drew in a sharp breath. He quickly turned to Li Shubai and Huang Zixia: “Did you hear that? Did you hear that? Did you hear that?”
“We heard,” Huang Zixia said calmly.
“How is this possible? Do you think it’s possible? How could someone as strong and ruthless as Empress Wang go mad with grief over the late Emperor?”
Li Shubai silently pointed at the window. Zhou Ziqin understood and quickly shut the doors and windows with a “bang.” Huang Zixia lifted the wine pot to pour him half a cup, saying softly: “His Majesty knew he wouldn’t live long, so he asked Wang Zongshi for an Agashnie fish egg. It was originally meant for Prince Kui, but later, was given to Empress Wang instead.”
Zhou Ziqin gasped and asked: “Did Wang Zongshi know that His Majesty wanted to… to harm Empress Wang? Why didn’t he stop His Majesty?”
Huang Zixia and Li Shubai exchanged glances, both thinking that Empress Wang wasn’t really from the Wang family, just their pawn placed beside the Emperor. Now that Wang Fu’s son Li Xun had successfully ascended the throne, Wang Shao, or rather Mei Wanzhi, had served her purpose. What good would it do them if she continued living?
“Ah, this Agashnie is so frightening, now I carefully check my water every time before drinking,” he said, looking down at his cup, and only drinking after finding no red spots. “It’s such a hassle, let’s quickly return to Shu. At least there shouldn’t be people raising such fish there.”
“Don’t worry, Imperial Eunuch Wang has left,” Huang Zixia said but unconsciously checked her cup, still apprehensive.
“Left? Where to?” he quickly asked.
“New emperor, new court. Now the young Emperor is close to Tian Lingzi. Wang’s Shence Army suffered heavy casualties recently, and after a memorial was submitted, the Shence Army changed its military commander. Now Tian Lingzi has taken the position.”
“The Shence Army suffered heavy casualties… what happened?” Zhou Ziqin quickly asked.
Li Shubai looked up at the sky, while Huang Zixia pointed downstairs saying: “Seems they’re talking about something interesting again, want to listen?”
Zhou Ziqin immediately forgot his previous question and quickly opened the window facing the courtyard. Indeed, they had started discussing another matter—
“With the new Emperor’s ascension, the capital’s military forces are frequently changing commanders. Not to mention the Shence Army’s affairs, just look at Prince Kui’s Shenwei and Shenwu armies, it’s truly surprising. They say those willing to return home are given ten times the silver and ten mu of land in their hometown, well settled; while those willing to continue their military service, if they want to stay in the capital, are merged into the Imperial Guards, or if they want to fight, can go to Longxi. They have the most experience fighting the Uighurs, so victory in this return campaign will naturally come soon. The vanguard against the Uighurs this time is Commander Wang of the Imperial Guards, Wang Yun of the Wang family of Langya.”
The listeners immediately burst into discussion, some saying Prince Kui was dispelling the new Emperor’s suspicions by giving up military power, unsure whether to admire or sigh; others envied how serving under Prince Kui was rewarding, with ten mu of land and tenfold money upon retirement; more spoke admiringly of how Wang Yun was now the most promising descendant of the Wang family, surprisingly choosing military service over court life, truly showing great ambition…
“Wang Yun is leaving? We should go see him off.” Zhou Ziqin said, seeing Huang Zixia’s somewhat awkward expression, suddenly remembering she was supposed to marry Wang Yun before, even trying on wedding clothes. He felt more awkward than her and quickly changed the subject, “This, this… the weather is nice today, even the tea seems especially good…”
“Stop drinking tea, it’s almost noon, I’ll take you to eat,” Huang Zixia said, rising gracefully and gesturing to Li Shubai.
Li Shubai smiled slightly and said: “Let’s go.”
Zhou Ziqin was immediately dumbfounded: “No way? We finally meet and you just treat me to tea? Not even a meal? At least give me some porridge, a pancake…”
Huang Zixia followed Li Shubai out, saying: “Come with us! What you’ll eat later will satisfy you completely, making you happier than a hundred meals at Cuijin Tower.”
“I don’t believe it! How could there be such delicious food in the world?”
“I… I don’t believe it! How could there be such delicious food in the world?!”
In Prince Zhao’s flower hall, peach and plum blossoms bloomed on all sides, willow branches swept the banks, and grass grew tender and green. However, no one had time to appreciate the scenery now, especially Zhou Ziqin, his mouth stuffed full of gulou zi, left hand holding one piece, right hand gripping another, eyes fixed on one more on the table.
Prince Zhao Li Bing laughed heartily, slapping the table as he asked: “So Ziqin, tell me, is this the best gulou zi you’ve ever eaten in your life?”
“Mmm! It could be… tied for first!” He swallowed his mouthful, drank half a cup of tea to catch his breath, and said, “It’s on par with what Diicui made at Zhang Er’s place back then!”
Huang Zixia held a crispy piece of gulou zi, exchanging smiles with Li Shubai, and asked him softly: “What do you think?”
“Mm, indeed quite good,” Li Shubai nodded.
Prince Zhao proudly said: “Fourth Brother, you don’t know! After I ate a gulou zi in Puning Ward, I was obsessed, completely enchanted! But unfortunately, the girl who made the gulou zi only liked that silly boy from Puning Ward, I couldn’t even recruit her!”
“You want everything you see? You even tried to take Zixia from me before,” Li Shubai laughed, turning to look at Huang Zixia.
Prince Zhao quickly raised his hand, saying: “I wouldn’t dare! I, your ninth brother, was truly ignorant then, I thought she was a young eunuch! If I had known she was Prince Kui’s wife, I wouldn’t have dared even if you killed me!”
Huang Zixia’s cheeks couldn’t help but flush red, and she lowered her head in silence.
But Li Shubai calmly wiped his hands and said: “Good that you understand. In the future, when eyeing someone, first check who they belong to.”
Prince Zhao and Zhou Ziqin exchanged glances, both showing expressions of toothache.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Zhou Ziqin quickly found a topic to discuss with Prince Zhao: “Your Highness Prince Zhao, I wonder how you invite this Gulou zi master?”
“Oh, that’s quite complicated. When she heard it was for Prince Kui, she said after making the Gulou zi, she would change clothes and come pay her respects, why hasn’t she come yet?” Prince Zhao looked into the peach and plum trees while casually saying, “Speaking of which, the person who introduced her, you definitely know too, it was Prince Consort Wei.”
“Prince Consort Wei… Wei Baoheng?” Zhou Ziqin immediately jumped up, remembering something, and stuttered: “Could it be… could it be that the person who made the Gulou zi is, is…”
Before he could finish, they saw a slender, petite figure walking through the deep peach blossoms on the small path, wearing cyan narrow-sleeved silk robes, a jade butterfly in her hair, a maiden as fresh as a green peach, though her face was shrouded in some inescapable melancholy.
She walked before them, curtsied gracefully, and said softly: “Diicui pays respects to Prince Kui, and Prince Zhao, and greets Miss Huang and Young Master Zhou.”
Huang Zixia quickly stood up, helped her up, and brushed the grass leaves from her knees. The others just smiled without speaking, only Zhou Ziqin’s mouth formed a perfect circle as he gasped: “Miss… Miss Lü!”
Diicui nodded slightly to him, standing quietly beside Huang Zixia holding her hand. Seeing that though she was thinner, her expression seemed fine overall, Huang Zixia finally felt relieved and asked: “Are you doing well?”
Diicui’s eyes couldn’t help but cloud with a thin layer of moisture, but she held back her tears, only gripping her hand lightly and saying softly: “Thank you for your concern, Miss Huang… I should have died, I even thought of going to the Grand Court of Justice to turn myself in and end my life. But later Prince Consort Wei persuaded me, saying my father gave everything for me, and Second Brother Zhang also… surely wouldn’t want to see me take my life so lightly. My life was exchanged with theirs, I… must treasure myself.”
Huang Zixia gently stroked her hair, saying softly: “That you can think this way, your father and Second Brother Zhang would surely be comforted if they knew in the underworld.”
Diicui bit her lower lip, nodded silently, and lifted her hand to wipe away her tears.
Seeing her low spirits, Huang Zixia turned to Zhou Ziqin and said: “Ziqin, now you know? The world’s best gulou zi still belongs to Diicui.”
“Mm mm, Diicui’s second, no one dares claim first!” Zhou Ziqin nodded vigorously, and to prove it, stuffed another large piece into his mouth.
Seeing his high praise, Diicui managed to give them a faint smile. Prince Zhao saw Huang Zixia sit back beside Li Shubai and asked: “Fourth Brother, you and Miss Huang must be close to your happy day, right?”
“Yes, early next month on the sixth, the Huang family elders have already started arriving in the capital,” Li Shubai said.
“What? So soon?” Prince Zhao and Zhou Ziqin blurted out in unison, even their tones identical.
After looking at each other, Prince Zhao immediately said: “Those palace ladies are particularly annoying! When my concubine was having a baby, she came chattering endlessly every day, so irritating!”
“Yes, then let’s go to Yangzhou, and return the dagger to Yunshao Garden. I’ve always wanted to see it, with all its stunning beauties there,” Huang Zixia smiled and said, “I also want to see the world, all kinds of scenery, and all kinds of people.”
Li Shubai turned his head to look at Chang’an’s various wards, these familiar neighborhoods and street scenes that he could walk through with his eyes closed, suddenly feeling weary: “I thought I was the only one who didn’t want to stay in the capital.”
“Who would like it? If we stay here, there will only be scheming and striving,” Huang Zixia sighed softly, “The current Emperor doesn’t seem to be a wise ruler either. I fear the realm won’t know peace.”
Li Shubai nodded: “Yes, although after the late Emperor’s passing, the court has changed to mostly those who favor me, as the young Emperor grows year by year, his suspicions will only increase. By then, the court’s support for me will only make him more dissatisfied. I don’t want to exhaust myself being cautious only to meet such an end.”
“So, let’s leave together. Hide our identities, see the spring rain in Jiangnan, and then see the ends of the earth. The world is vast, with endless wonders to see, a lifetime of enjoyment,” Huang Zixia turned back to smile at him, “Perhaps decades later, we can return to Chang’an. If it suits us for retirement, we could stay then.”
Li Shubai nodded slightly, and they rode side by side. Ahead was a perfectly blooming cherry plum tree, most of it extending over the low wall, its crimson petals like fragments of gossamer, scattered on the ground. They reached this spot and simultaneously halted their horses, standing beneath the flowering tree.
“When we leave, will you take your little red fish?”
“No, I’ve already returned it to Wang Zongshi,” Li Shubai looked up at the tree’s flowers, letting the gentle breeze scatter petals all over him, “He knows better than I how to care for an Agashnie, and now that he’s retired from office, a place of mountains and clear waters suits a fish better than bustling prosperity.”
“I never imagined someone like Wang Zongshi, who influenced three emperors, could retire safely,” Huang Zixia sighed.
Li Shubai turned to look at her, saying softly: “Before he left, he left you a gift.”
“That Wang mansion? It’s beautiful and fine, but… I don’t want it,” Huang Zixia shook her head, speaking softly, “Like that corridor where the little fish was kept, exceptionally exquisite and beautiful, but also exceptionally eerie and cold.”
“He said it doesn’t matter whether you want it or not, but he’s already had A’ze stay behind, waiting for you—of course, that youth, like others in the mansion, has become deaf and mute.”
Huang Zixia felt her hair stand on end, even the spring blossoms seeming dim now. She said tremblingly: “It seems A’ze was indeed someone the late Emperor placed beside Wang Zongshi.”
“Yes, that’s why someone like Wang Zongshi is truly successful, isn’t he?” Li Shubai said, then smiled again, saying, “I even somewhat suspect that when deciding to end my life, how could someone as meticulous as Wang Zongshi allow Wang Yun to find you, delaying the plan to head south the next day? He surely must have had more subtle methods.”
“Who knows,” Huang Zixia said thoughtfully, “At least, he didn’t plant an Agashnie in you, making him my greatest benefactor. But he still participated in usurping the throne, an unforgivable crime.”
“Speaking of this, when he came to bid farewell at my mansion, he mentioned this matter. Though he was from a branch of the Wang family, the blood ties were already thin, and in his youth, he didn’t feel the main family was particularly important to him. The reason he was willing to help the Wang family support the late Emperor was simply because he hated my father,” Li Shubai gently caught a falling petal, his tone mild.
Huang Zixia asked: “Was that the day you had someone make cherry biluo for me?”
He nodded, sighing slightly: “Yes, he brought a basket of cherries just arrived from Li Mountain.”
“Eunuch Wang was very kind to me,” Huang Zixia lowered her head in silence, saying, “I just don’t know why he hated the late Emperor. As far as I know, the late Emperor trusted him greatly, even letting him command the Shence Army at just over twenty, which was quite remarkable.”
“I told you before that I had no dealings with him. But since he was such an important eunuch at court, how could I not have investigated his background?” Li Shubai gently waved his hand, letting the petal in his palm be carried away by the wind, saying softly, “In his youth, he had a childhood sweetheart, from the most famous cherry-growing family at the foot of Li Mountain.”
Huang Zixia opened her eyes wide in surprise, saying nothing.
“After he was convicted and castrated, that girl made him a pair of cherry biluo with her own hands, to send him on his way.”
“What about that girl now?” Huang Zixia asked when he stopped speaking.
Li Shubai looked at her silently, saying: “Who knows? Naturally, she’s now a mother to many children, perhaps already a grandmother. And Wang Zongshi, in this life, will never have any connection with her again—all this, just because his family was implicated in an old case, and my father casually marked his brush, disposing of his entire family.”
So he entered the palace and served Emperor Xuanzong respectfully for many years while burying everything in his heart, keeping silent. So he had cherries sent from Li Mountain every year, stubbornly refusing to forget what he once could have had, but was forever lost.
Huang Zixia shook her head sadly, saying: “Let’s not speak of him anymore. In any case, all storms have passed. I hope Eunuch Wang can truly achieve his wish, to be reborn as a fish without knowledge or feeling.”
Li Shubai nodded. The breeze grew stronger, fallen flowers swirling, the two gazing at each other wordlessly on horseback.
Diie and Fusha paced and stood, their necks touching. As their horses drew closer, they too drew nearer. Just as their horses were about to pass each other, Li Shubai suddenly reached out to embrace her waist, pulling her over to him.
Huang Zixia sat sideways on Diie and looked back at him, helpless and shy: “You startled me.”
“Before, we always passed by each other like this, but this time, I won’t let go,” he held her waist, lowering his head to rest his chin on her shoulder.
The hairpin he had given her lightly touched his ear. He couldn’t help but smile slightly, raising his hand to press on the scroll pattern, with a soft “click,” he pulled out the jade pin from the middle.
He held up the jade pin against the sunlight and asked her: “Have you noticed the characters on it?”
Huang Zixia asked in surprise: “Characters?”
He held the pin in the sunlight, placing it before her to see.
In the refracted sunlight, an extremely fine and small line of characters appeared on the pin, like a strand of hair, with barely perceptible traces—
“Keep it in your heart, never to forget.”
Huang Zixia took the pin in surprise, carefully examining the characters on it, asking: “This pin hasn’t left my side since you gave it to me, when did you engrave these characters?”
Li Shubai didn’t answer, only smiled at her. Behind them, the flowering tree was brilliant, its petals falling without wind, covering their heads and bodies.
Huang Zixia suddenly understood—it could only have been when he gave her this pin.
Long, long ago, when he was still cold and indifferent to her.
So he had already given her these words, so early on.
He smiled and embraced her tightly from behind: “So slow. When I gave it to you, I had you try it on in front of me, thinking you would discover it then. Who knew you wouldn’t notice until now, requiring me to tell you.”
“I… I don’t examine it during my free time, and when I do take it out, it’s usually during busy, tense moments, how would I notice characters finer than a hair…” her cheeks flushed, feeling her face grow hot.
All around was quiet, the flowering tree sheltering their figures, their breaths mingling, the outside world silent. Though Huang Zixia’s heart was racing at first, the surrounding silence and the steady, solid chest embracing her gradually calmed her flushed cheeks. She sighed in relief, gently placing her hands over his arms that held her.
Neither spoke nor moved, just quietly watching the flowers blooming and falling before them on horseback.
Life is limitless, and the world is vast. Throughout the nine provinces and four seas, countless flowers still waited for them to pass by on horseback; in a hundred years of life, long years awaited them to spend hand in hand.
Just like now as they embraced beneath the flowering tree, finding the most peaceful and beautiful moment in the world’s most prosperous place.
Chang’an, a lifetime in Chang’an.