“Hahahahaha…”
On an ancient tree with a canopy spreading across the sky in front of Xuande Hall, sparrows fluttered their wings and flew away. The two young eunuchs standing guard outside stole a glance back, then immediately resumed their proper stance—
Inside the hall, the Emperor laughed so hard he repeatedly pounded the table: “Hahaha, I knew there would be such a scene, I just didn’t expect it so soon. Truly, enemies are bound to meet! Haha, hahahaha…”
Marquis Cui laughed until tears and snot ran down his face: “This subject’s wine jar hasn’t even cooled yet, and they’ve started their commotion again!”
The Crown Prince sat to one side, his face black as the bottom of a pot: “Father Emperor, Marquis Cui, please stop laughing! We should think of a countermeasure—that’s what makes sense!”
The Emperor wiped away tears, deliberately saying: “What countermeasure? Old acquaintances reunited, they just exchanged a few sharp words.”
The Crown Prince was exasperated: “Father Emperor, you didn’t see—they… they…” Though he’d never eaten pork, his parents had been lovingly devoted for so many years that he’d at least seen pigs run. “Zicheng, he… he…”
“Zicheng was very delighted, wasn’t he?” The Emperor quietly finished the sentence.
“…Father Emperor is not wrong.” The Crown Prince deflated. “After their reunion, I saw Zicheng composed and serene, conversing and laughing pleasantly, without any trace of proud indignation. I thought he had already cast the past behind him, but who knew… who knew…”
“Who knew, it’s not like that at all.” The Emperor’s tone was gentle.
The Crown Prince sighed—as soon as his sworn brother saw that woman, his eyes brightened, his temper emerged, his whole person came alive. Compared to just now, his previous gentleness seemed separated by a gauze curtain, distant and unfamiliar.
“Father Emperor, did you know early on it would be like this?” The Crown Prince raised his head to look at his father.
The Emperor smiled and shook his head: “I didn’t know. I also couldn’t assert whether Zicheng had completely forgotten past events. However, now I know.”
The Crown Prince said vexedly: “Had I known this, I shouldn’t have let Lady Cheng become engaged to the Yuan family. What kind of situation is this now! Father Emperor too—why didn’t you have Zicheng return earlier!”
The Emperor stroked his beard, not without a bitter smile: “To tell the truth, these five years Lady Cheng hasn’t shown the slightest intention of wanting to marry. Yuan Shen repeatedly went to Yong’an Palace to pay court, but was turned away every time. Who could have predicted that once she made up her mind, she’d have the marriage settled the very next month? She returned home once, and both sides even completed the formal betrothal ceremony. Hmph, even Grand Empress Dowager Xuan didn’t expect this—it’s just too… too hasty.”
“That’s not as proper as Your Majesty.” Marquis Cui laughed. “Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress took a full three years from developing mutual affection to formal proposal.”
“Loose lips!” The Emperor laughed and glared at Cui You. “Still better than you though!” Suppressed for a lifetime without ever properly confessing.
Cui You touched his nose and changed the subject: “It’s just that even Zicheng took several months from developing feelings for Shaoshang to asking Your Majesty to propose marriage! This child Shaoshang acted too hastily after all—could she have been anxious to marry?”
The Crown Prince could bear it no longer and said loudly: “Father Emperor waited three years—first, because Father Emperor is ten years older than Mother Empress, and second, because Father Emperor had no money or power at the time and hesitated! That wasn’t Zicheng waiting several months—at that time Lady Cheng was still Young Master Lou’s fiancée. Should he have snatched the bride?!”
The Emperor continued stroking his beard. Cui You added: “And now, Shaoshang is Yuan Shangjian’s fiancée.”
The Crown Prince sighed deeply: “Why must Zicheng hang himself on a single tree? Your son sees that Lady Luo is learned and reasonable, considerate and thoughtful—nothing wrong with her at all!” As he said this, he suddenly glimpsed his father’s noncommittal lip curl. He hastily said, “Father Emperor, did you know early on that Zicheng doesn’t care for Lady Luo?”
The Emperor said: “Lady Luo has been in the palace so many years—it’s not the first day she’s been learned, reasonable, considerate and thoughtful. If they were compatible, Zicheng would have come to care for her long ago. Why would he wait until today?”
“Then what do we do now? Your son already told Mother Empress to summon Lady Luo’s mother!” The Crown Prince said anxiously.
The Emperor said leisurely: “You’re the heir apparent. You also arranged the match between Zicheng and Lady Luo. You think of a solution yourself.”
The Crown Prince, having no solution, shifted his anger: “Marquis Cui, this is all your fault! In your letters you repeatedly mentioned Lady Luo and Zicheng, making me misunderstand their relationship!”
“This can’t be blamed on this subject.” Cui You laughed, deflecting without a trace of culpability.
“Your Highness kept inquiring in letters whether there were any virtuous ladies in the border city who could match Zicheng. But the northwest borderlands have fierce folk customs and rough social conditions. In terms of upbringing, family background, learning and character, Lady Luo is indeed the cream of the crop there—this subject didn’t speak falsely. Moreover, Lady Luo grew up at Grand Empress Dowager Xuan’s side, clearly understands Zicheng’s habits and preferences, and has involved herself in Zicheng’s clothing, food, housing and travel matters—all handled properly, far superior to those naive girls who just met him. Naturally this subject reported truthfully.”
The Crown Prince was too angry to speak. Cui You twisted the knife further: “Most importantly, Your Highness always asked which woman treated Zicheng best, matched Zicheng best in all aspects—you never asked what Zicheng himself was thinking!”
The Crown Prince raged: “Couldn’t Marquis Cui have reminded me?!”
“This subject did remind you! This subject said it’s best to let nature take its course, follow Zicheng’s own wishes. But Your Highness said Zicheng is a devoted person—waiting for him to figure things out would take who knows how many years, delaying marriage and children.” Marquis Cui parried every move.
“Marquis Cui, you… you’re so slippery… I, I misjudged you!” The Crown Prince was so angry his nose nearly went crooked.
Cui You shrugged mischievously.
The Emperor was delighted, chuckling continuously: “Ziduan, you see—this is the mouth of a court minister! Don’t think that just because you’re heir apparent or emperor, you can decide everything with one word. If your considerations are inadequate, ministers have plenty of reasons to refute you. Ayuan is one of our own—if you get angry and curse him twice, that’s that. But in the future when you encounter major military and state affairs, if things go wrong because you acted arbitrarily, no one will take the blame for you.”
—Don’t think ministers won’t trap the emperor. Except for those true confidants who consider things from your heart and liver, actually the entire court is full of traps everywhere. Because you became emperor, you naturally assume all ministers’ hearts turn toward you—this is arrogance!
“Your son has received the teaching.” The Crown Prince rarely showed discouragement. “Your son just thought Zicheng had it too hard. Back then he was expelled to the northern desert wasteland, leaving the capital injured and ill, and Lady Cheng didn’t even go to see him once. Your son thought, this time I must find Zicheng a woman who shows care and concern, who’s completely obedient. Alas, who could have known…”
Cui You saw the Crown Prince’s troubled expression and felt compassion: “Your Highness, it’s this subject’s fault…”
The Crown Prince raised his head to look at him.
Cui You said: “This subject should have been more long-winded.” He paused. “Taking this subject as an example—speaking from the heart, when it comes to showing care and concern and complete obedience, the concubine this subject took last year surpasses Junhua by who knows how much. But ah, some people just have cheap bones! I remember one year during intense summer heat, this subject went to the Huo residence to seek out Junhua to play. Seeing this subject covered in sweat, she muddle-headedly brought me a bowl of cold water. As a result, this subject developed stomach trouble and nearly lost half my life.”
Speaking of his white moonlight’s confused deeds, he smiled and shook his head repeatedly. “Alas, but in the middle of the night when I dream and wake, this subject still often thinks of Junhua. If Junhua were still here, this subject wouldn’t fear drinking several more bowls of cold water.”
The Crown Prince seemed to understand yet not understand.
Thinking of the departed, the Emperor sighed softly: “Ziduan, there are many kinds of people in this world. There are those like Ayuan who can only hold one person in their heart for a lifetime, and there are those like Marquis Yu with wives and concubines in throngs, embracing left and right. There are those like your Second Imperial Brother for whom a thousand sails pass but none are right, and there are those like General Wu who after losing his wife and remarrying still lives in harmony and happiness. Which kind do you think Zicheng is?”
The Crown Prince felt vexed and said sullenly: “It was Zicheng himself who said the past is past, and in the future he’ll start anew.”
“Dull child!” The Emperor laughed and sighed. “Sometimes, what comes out of a person’s mouth isn’t necessarily what’s in their heart. Take the land survey matter being discussed in court these past days. Zicheng’s approval is genuine—after all, he’s one person eating his fill with the whole family not hungry. How does investigating estates, land and population affect him? But Yu Yue and other meritorious noble ministers, plus several princes consort, all strongly approve—can that be genuine? These families have numerous members with in-laws everywhere, plus many dependents. Even if the household heads are willing, can those below be willing? The involved relationships are too numerous!”
Speaking, he glanced at Cui You and smiled: “There’s also Marquis Cui. When he says he approves the land survey, that’s mostly true too, because he comes from a merchant background—he loves doing business, not acquiring land. As long as I don’t charge into the Cui residence to investigate money chests, Ayuan has nothing to obstruct.”
Cui You said helplessly: “Why does Your Majesty drag me into this? Originally Your Majesty urged me daily to acquire land. Looking at it now, doing business is still better. Land can’t run away—anyone can investigate it. Money chests—this subject can hide them wherever I please.”
“Fool! Land can be productive. What can strings of cash left at home produce!”
“Money in this subject’s hands can also be productive.”
“Go read ‘On Suppressing Commerce’!”
“This subject only occasionally handles some small business himself—I haven’t made everyone in the world engage in commerce. Besides, Sang Hongyang also came from a merchant background. Emperor Wu employed him his entire life and even made him a regent minister!”
“Oh, you actually dare compare yourself to Sang Hongyang? Looks like you’ve accumulated quite a few gold and silver mountains at home. How about I have people investigate?”
“No, no, no, elder brother spare my life! Ayuan knows his error!”
“Sang Hongyang was skilled at mental arithmetic. You need counting rods for any number above a hundred, yet you have the face to compare yourself to Sang Hongyang?! I think you’re just cut out to be a small merchant!” The Emperor snorted disdainfully.
Marquis Cui protested helplessly: “Your Majesty yourself excels at farming. With the same fields, Your Majesty can get thirty percent more yield than others, so naturally you consider tending the soil the most beautiful thing under heaven. This subject comparing myself to Sang Hongyang was indeed presumptuous, but that fellow Ma Wu comes from the Greenwood bandits yet still thinks he was born with talent for catching thieves and could serve as commandant in times of peace!”
“True enough. Ma Wu not becoming a bandit and turning himself in to the authorities is already very good.”
The sovereign and minister grinned and laughed heartily together.
“—Father Emperor, Marquis Cui!” The Crown Prince restrained his irritation. “Let’s discuss Zicheng first!”
That pair of sovereign and minister turned back. Cui You scratched his head, having nothing to say. The Emperor smiled: “My son speak first.”
The Crown Prince said: “Setting aside past matters, Lady Cheng is ultimately already engaged to Yuan Shen. This, this… what should Zicheng do?” Originally Huo Buyi was too embarrassed to snatch Lou Yao’s fiancée—now he can’t snatch Yuan Shen’s either.
The Emperor was completely unhurried: “Just let nature take its course.”
The Crown Prince looked at his father for a long time, suspicious: “Father Emperor, do you have a strategy?”
“My son may guess.” The Emperor smiled slightly, the very image of a kind and considerate elder. “In the future, all under heaven will be yours. I can’t always tell you what to do.”
The Crown Prince took a deep breath. Fine, if you won’t say it, you won’t. However, watching his son jump into a pit with eyes wide open while standing aside with folded arms laughing—this can’t be easily settled.
Stepping out of Xuande Hall, his attending eunuch asked: “Your Highness, where do you wish to go?”
The Crown Prince said in a low voice: “I’m going to find Mother Empress!”
—The next day at court assembly, the ministers discovered both of the Emperor’s ears were red.
…
Cheng Shaogong had the household guards gallop their horses swiftly and finally caught up to his twin sister on the road to the Cheng residence. Shaoshang had ridden for half the day—her hair was disheveled, her forehead beaded with sweat. Without a word, she returned the yellow-maned horse to her twin brother, then ducked into the carriage.
“I already thought it through just now.” Shaoshang took the handkerchief Yuan Shen handed her. “In the future, we should see that person surnamed Huo as little as possible. After all, past events are awkward—just like how Third Aunt doesn’t really associate with Master Huangfu either.”
Yuan Shen silently poured her a cup of warm water.
“However, I think just now I still managed to remain composed in words and deeds, neither arrogant nor impatient, and wasn’t flustered at all. Don’t you agree?” The girl stared with wide eyes, as if extracting a confession, looking at Yuan Shen.
“…You indeed had no impropriety.” Yuan Shen said.
The two sat facing each other in silence. After a long while, Shaoshang gave a bitter laugh: “Alright, actually I did panic and lose my composure. But I always thought he wouldn’t return until the day after tomorrow. Standing there so suddenly—how could I not panic?”
Yuan Shen let out a long breath, also smiling bitterly: “To tell the truth, earlier when I saw him in Xuande Hall, I also felt flustered and confused, not knowing what to say—even more frightening than being impeached to my face in court!”
“Exactly! Never mind me, but you never even got engaged to him, yet you panicked. What about me?”
Yuan Shen glared: “Don’t use the engagement as an excuse!”
Shaoshang said: “Isn’t it all because of your family’s trouble? Otherwise, how would this humble woman have met the bold and skilled Fifth Hero!”
The two glared at each other for a long time, then simultaneously burst out laughing.
Yuan Shen relaxed against the carriage wall, laughing as he asked: “What do you plan to do with Fifth Cheng now that you’ve caught him?”
Shaoshang said: “Hand him over to my parents! My father is best at cultivating friendships and reasoning—he’ll tell you stories with tears streaming down his face. My mother will quote classics and expound in detail on how difficult people’s livelihood is throughout the realm. Water wears away stone—first lock him up for a month or two and see how things go.”
Yuan Shen frowned: “Will this be proper? Over the years, Father has not failed to ask acquaintances to try persuading Fifth Cheng.”
“That’s different. The people your father sent were mostly old friends of both men. Fifth Cheng definitely thought they all stood on the Yuan family’s side. But my family has absolutely no connection to events from over twenty years ago! Being outside the situation, we can actually speak properly. “
“Won’t this trouble your esteemed father and mother too much…” Yuan Shen didn’t want his future in-laws to have a poor opinion of him.
Shaoshang said righteously: “If we don’t trouble them now, it’ll be trouble later! In the future when I’ve borne children, if Fifth Cheng also barges in like his sister did, grabbing the infant to threaten you father and son—what then?! Another volley of ten thousand arrows?”
Yuan Shen’s eyes darkened. He didn’t speak.
Shaoshang moved closer, pushed him, and said softly: “Hey, have you considered secretly killing Fifth Cheng to eliminate future trouble?”
Yuan Shen glared at her—tacit admission.
“I knew it!” Shaoshang said triumphantly. “I know you well—you look refined and scholarly, but your belly is black as ink! Don’t worry, I think Fifth Cheng can still be saved. I’m seventy to eighty percent confident I can persuade him!”
“What if you can’t convince him? What will you do then?”
“I’ve thought about that too. Why kill him? Make the best use of people!” Shaoshang smiled mischievously. “Uncle Wan often complains that Xu Commandery, being situated at a strategic crossroads, experienced continuous warfare in previous years, resulting in a shortage of able-bodied men in the commandery—widows everywhere.”
“Isn’t that just Lord Wan’s excuse for wanting to take concubines? What does it have to do with Fifth Cheng?”
“Don’t interrupt! If Fifth Cheng can be persuaded, fine. If not, tie him up and send him to Xu Commandery, match him with seven or eight wives who’ve long thirsted for rain after drought. By next spring… tsk tsk tsk… that would also be doing good deeds for the court and the people.”
In Shaoshang’s view, Fifth Cheng constantly troubled the Yuan family because he was alone with no attachments. Once he had sons and daughters, see if he could still jump around like this!
Yuan Shen stared at the girl for a long time, then sighed: “Your words and conduct are now dignified and proper, but your head is still as jumbled and chaotic as before. However… I like this idea!”
“You also think this plan is good! Governor Yuan won’t come to stop it either.”
“This idea is a bit rotten, but it wins on being mischievous and interesting—now I rather hope Fifth Cheng won’t be persuaded by your parents!”
“Great minds think somewhat alike!”
Two black-hearted devils with gentle, amiable exteriors laughed together.
Hearing the cheerful laughter from inside the carriage, Cheng Shaogong riding the piebald horse sighed deeply. Recalling how Yuan Shen’s face had been black as a pot bottom just moments ago, he thought his twin sister’s skill at coaxing people remained as good as ever—clearly family learning and excellent parental inheritance.
…
Luo Jitong was helped down from the carriage. Outside the Luo residence entrance, servants and household staff had already gathered to welcome her.
A well-dressed old woman came forward smiling: “Hearing that young mistress was returning home, the mistress tidied up young mistress’s quarters early. The master is out on business, but just sent someone back with a message saying he’ll return as soon as possible—after so many years, the family can finally reunite! Alas, all these years the mistress has been sighing and lamenting, saying that back then she was careless and arranged for you a sickly, short-lived husband, making you a young widow. The family feels guilty toward you!”
Luo Jitong said gently: “How can that be said? Father and Mother have always cherished and loved me. I also look forward to reuniting with my parents and siblings. It’s just that earlier the Crown Prince invited me to a banquet, so I had no choice but to enter the palace for an audience.”
That old woman supported Luo Jitong as they walked inside, saying in a low voice: “The family has already heard. Everyone praises that young mistress is both talented and beautiful, rarely seen in the world, and should long ago have been matched with a peerless talent like General Huo. Also, since the Wang family’s downfall, the master has been restless and uneasy. Only after hearing that the Crown Prince values young mistress highly did things improve.”
Luo Jitong smiled with restraint—this was just the beginning. She absolutely would not surrender without a fight.
…
Several months ago, under the Crown Prince’s personal supervision, the Huo residence had been completely renovated. The solemn and imposing black main gate stood wide open. The Liangqiu brothers, who had returned home earlier, led all the household guards and servants in formation at the entrance to welcome Huo Buyi.
After dismounting, Huo Buyi tossed the reins aside and strode silently inward. Passing through the main courtyard and turning a corner, he suddenly stopped beneath a flowering tree beside a side gate.
Liangqiu Qi glanced at that flowering tree: “This was the sapling Lady Cheng transplanted five years ago. Now it’s grown so well.”
Huo Buyi looked up. In the spring season when all things revived, the tender flower buds on the branches struggled to emerge.
Liangqiu Fei was about to speak when his elder brother pulled his sleeve to stop him.
Liangqiu Qi said softly: “Young master, did you… see Lady Cheng?”
Huo Buyi gazed quietly at those small buds poking out their heads. The warm early spring sunlight filtered through the flowers and leaves, casting gently murmuring dappled shadows on his pale, handsome face.
“I saw her. She’s still youthful and radiant, verdant and tender. …But I’ve already grown old.”