This was Shaoshang’s third time in her life traveling far from home. The previous two times… Alas, better not mention them.
Actually, Madam Xiao had originally hoped she would wait until the rebellions in various regions were quelled before departing. However, seeing this matter couldn’t be concluded in a day or two, Madam Xiao finally relented. This was mainly because Shaoshang’s destination was Yu Province. Thanks to the blessing of Governor Liang, this was one of the few places in the realm where the land survey decree was being implemented smoothly. The territory was basically calm and peaceful—even divorce lawsuits between husbands and wives were proceeding as usual.
Passing through Yingchuan, Shaoshang stopped to visit Qu Lingjun, who was home awaiting childbirth, and obtained two small cloth tigers personally made by the pregnant woman. Lady Qu was a true model of refined womanhood, accomplished both inside and out. The cloth tigers she sewed had round heads and bodies, solid and adorable. Shaoshang loved them immensely. Palace Steward Cheng maintained a contemptuous gaze throughout—that’s right, this time only he accompanied Shaoshang on the journey.
Yu Province was located in the south-central plains. Looking down from above, its terrain resembled an upright silkworm cocoon. At the top, to the left and right, were Si Province and Yan Province. At the bottom were Jing Province and Yang Province, vast and sparsely populated, still awaiting prosperity. To the west, several provinces and commanderies had only sporadic rebellions. General Han, like a patient sweeping grandmother, led troops to clean them up one by one. To the east was Xu Province, one of the four provinces with the fiercest rebellion.
To prevent rebel troops or refugees from wandering into Yu Province territory, Liang Wuji, disregarding his wife who was about to give birth, went west to catch several groups of bandits, then east to block passes, running back and forth between both sides, utterly frazzled.
The Grand Empress Dowager’s hometown was in Yiyang Commandery at the southernmost point of Yu Province. As long as Shaoshang’s party took the official road straight through the middle, not approaching Yu Province’s eastern or western sides, there would be no danger. With such clear autumn weather, the journey was leisurely and carefree. Shaoshang was even thinking that after completing the Grand Empress Dowager’s dying wish, she could continue south to Jiangxia in Jing Province to see Miss Wang Xi. Reportedly, this young lady now had quite a virtuous reputation locally. Everyone praised her as gentle, respectful, compliant, and obedient—among all the sisters-in-law, the new wife who struck her husband most lightly when beating him… Huh?
“Aren’t you and that Miss Wang mortal enemies?” Palace Steward Cheng couldn’t understand this kind of “friendship.”
Shaoshang said: “Sister E and I even fought, yet didn’t she become my sister-in-law? We women are magnanimous. Even if there are grudges, at most it’s gentle wind and fine rain—can’t stir up great waves. Unlike you men—one wrong move and you raise troops in rebellion, creating bloody winds and rain, fires of war reaching the sky!”
Shaoshang very much wanted to tell his sister about those queen consorts from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods who stirred up wind and rain. His lips moved several times, but finally he shrank back into the carriage. His sister had always been decisive, but after five years as Palace Steward she’d become even more confident and resolute. He couldn’t suppress her at all. Not only that, his sister had actually begun questioning his qualifications as elder brother!
“Third Brother, let me ask you something.” Shaoshang found time to drill into the carriage. “When Mother was in labor, Great-Father was gravely ill, and Father happened to be away. The house was in chaos. Tell me, could the midwife have made a mistake? Maybe I was actually born an hour earlier, not you, Third Brother.”
Palace Steward Cheng was speechless for a long while, finally saying: “If it were two boys or two girls, perhaps they’d confuse who came first and who came later. But you and I are boy-girl twins. Could the midwife fail to remember male from female?!”
“Hard to say. Aunt Qing said she was still young then. Seeing Mother unconscious, she panicked and kept watching Mother until she woke. Only then did she have time to ask if it was elder brother-younger sister or elder sister-younger brother.”
Shaoshang was helpless: “We’re not children anymore. Why quibble over such trifles?”
“Nothing much. I just want to give orders to Third Brother with more righteous confidence.”
Palace Steward Cheng: …
This day at noon, the convoy made camp to cook and let everyone rest.
Shaoshang smiled as she sat beside her brother: “Third Brother, younger sister has something—I don’t know if I should ask.”
Shaoshang turned away, not wanting to acknowledge her, saying petulantly: “Would you not ask just because I don’t let you?”
“Good that you know. Third Brother, now aside from a few young ones like Zhu and the others, we siblings have mostly settled down. What exactly are your plans for the future?”
Shaoshang sighed inexplicably: “Eldest Brother wants me to learn to serve in his county. Second Brother wants me to help him survey rivers and streams in Xu Commandery. Father wants me to follow him to the military camp. Mother wants me to learn management of household affairs… But I myself want to first travel the world.”
Shaoshang was amazed: “Wow, serving as official, surveying, leading troops, household management—Third Brother knows all these?”
Shaoshang was quite proud: “Naturally I know them all. If you don’t believe me, ask Mother.” Although Madam Xiao always complained he knew but wasn’t proficient, he was actually the most broadly learned among all siblings.
Shaoshang immediately looked at him with new respect: “Since Third Brother wants to travel the world, why haven’t you left these years? Did Father and Mother not agree?”
“Not exactly. I wanted to first see you married before going out.”
A warm current flowed into Shaoshang’s heart. She smiled shyly and snuggled against him. When the cooking fire was lit, she brought him a bowl of steaming hot soup noodles, looking obsequious: “Third Brother, try it quickly. Eat while it’s hot. I adjusted the flavor, and the broth was simmered earlier at the post station.”
Shaoshang accepted the soup noodles, laughing and scolding: “First arrogant, then obsequious—you petty person!” —However, this petty person’s handiwork was quite good. Hmph, benefiting that Huo fellow!
“Setting aside future plans, what kind of wife does Third Brother want to marry?” Shaoshang continued asking.
Shaoshang blew on the bone broth and pondered for a moment: “Not too clever and eccentric. Like you—this brother can’t handle it.”
Shaoshang wanted to hit him again but forced herself to restrain: “Then like Mother—steady and measured.”
“Too smart and capable—I also can’t handle it.”
“Then like Sister E—gentle, graceful, mild, and compliant.”
“I don’t like women who are too virtuous and ladylike—makes me look bad.” His temperament was a hundred thousand miles from the proper uprightness of normal scholar-officials. He liked to joke and tease, occasionally acting神神叨叨 mysterious and eccentric. If a woman was too virtuous, he’d feel great pressure.
“Third Brother also knows he looks bad. Mm, then like Sister Qiqi—straightforward, free, naturally pure and innocent.”
This time Shaoshang nearly jumped up: “Are you trying to kill me?! Do you know how many beatings I took from her as a child? Do you? Do you?!”
Shaoshang said impatiently: “Then what exactly do you want? Aunt Sang, Aunt Qing… Don’t tell me you like someone as ‘strength-to-uproot-mountains-and-spirit-to-cover-the-world’ as Grandmother!”
Shaoshang was also quite depressed: “I haven’t figured it out at all—why are you pressing me with questions? That’s why I want to go out and travel. Maybe I’ll meet someone suitable outside!”
“Whatever you want.” Shaoshang was at a loss. “Just beware of Governor Yuan’s father’s warning—our family can’t withstand that kind of turmoil.” Actually she wanted to set up some property for Palace Steward Cheng, lest he spend his whole life frivolous and carefree, ending up in old age with no wife, no children, no home, no career.
Seeing his sister didn’t want to talk, Shaoshang became interested in conversation. He leaned over to gossip: “Niaoniao, before departure when His Majesty summoned you to the palace, what did he say?”
Shaoshang said gloomily: “Nothing much.”
“Did His Majesty say ‘his life has been very difficult’ and so on?”
Shaoshang suddenly turned her head, sitting halfway up: “You divined for me again?!”
Shaoshang quickly waved his hands: “No, no! I promised you—I haven’t cast divinations for you all these years!” He paused and smiled bitterly. “Even if I could divine and calculate, I couldn’t calculate what His Majesty would say.”
Shaoshang slowly sat back down, her face tense: “Good then… But how did you know?”
“I just guessed, guessed! The Grand Empress Dowager just passed away. His Majesty is benevolent and sentimental. Father said these two months he’s been melancholy and unhappy. Seeing you who served Her Majesty for so many years, how could he not feel emotional and wistful? We who divine and calculate fortunes—the first priority is being good at gauging people’s hearts, being observant of expressions. If we speak randomly, even if we don’t die, we’d lose half our life!”
“So you all rely on deceiving people.”
“Can’t put it that way. When Emperor Wen’s mother, Empress Dowager Bo, was still in Prince Wei’s palace, Xu Fu said she would give birth to a Son of Heaven. Didn’t it come true later?”
“What’s strange about that? At that time heroes rose together everywhere. Wei Bao was among them. Xu Fu probably said this to all the heroes’ female family members. One hero would always unify the realm—wouldn’t his concubines then give birth to the Son of Heaven?”
“Nonsense! Physiognomist Yao Weng also told Zang E: ‘Your eldest daughter’s nobility is beyond words—she will surely give birth to a Son of Heaven.’ Later it came true too. Lady Wang’s eldest daughter indeed gave birth to Emperor Wu.”
“At that time the rear palace was selecting beauties. Zang E looked full of ambition. Naturally Yao Weng had to speak along with her wishes. Could he say ‘your daughter has the fate of a palace maid—entering the palace she can only carry foot-washing water’? Would he have kept his life?!” Anyway, Shaoshang didn’t believe that just looking at faces could determine fate.
“But Zang E originally wanted to send her unmarried second daughter into the palace. It was Yao Weng who insisted her eldest daughter had the fate of an empress—remarkably accurate.”
“That’s even easier to explain. Naturally Yao Weng saw that although Empress Wang had already married and borne a daughter, she was more beautiful and clever than her sister, articulate and persuasive. For women entering the palace to compete for favor, naturally the more beautiful and intelligent the better!”
Shaoshang was half-dead with anger but couldn’t argue back. His face looked like dried yellow flowers, suppressing it for a long while before growling: “You, you, you… ‘Women and petty people are difficult to deal with!'”
Shaoshang laughed holding her belly. After laughing enough and calming down, she said softly: “That day His Majesty really didn’t say much. It’s just… it’s just that in my view, worldly affairs are as complicated as cotton floss, human hearts unfathomable and difficult to gauge, yet His Majesty lightly stated a conclusion…”
Shaoshang exercised a charlatan’s powers of observation and probed: “What His Majesty said to you—does it concern Huo Buyi?”
Shaoshang nodded gloomily: “I thought kidney beans are hard to cook because their nature is stubborn. Leeks and scallions are pungent because the earth’s energy is dry and parched. But His Majesty, His Majesty said I… said I was only…”
“Only cowardly.” Shaoshang calmly spoke the last two words.
Shaoshang suddenly turned: “How did you know again?”
Shaoshang sighed lightly: “I saw it long ago, just didn’t know how to tell you. Father always praises you as cautious and meticulous, thoughtful in planning. But I know this isn’t your true nature. Watching you hit it off immediately with Sister Qiqi, I knew you actually also like being bold and carefree, following your heart freely. Want to drink? Steal two jugs from the cellar and drink until dead drunk, not fearing scolding. Want to quarrel? Even in front of elders, dare to strike first and scold thoroughly—but you don’t dare. Sister Qiqi has people to cover her mistakes. You…”
Speaking to this point, his heart ached, his voice hoarse: “Did you notice—when you entered the palace, when Huo Buyi was there you made mistakes more easily. When Huo Buyi wasn’t there you were much more obedient. After Huo Buyi was exiled, your conduct became increasingly proper. I often heard people say ‘the Cheng family’s young miss is quite capable, maneuvering between Changqiu and Yong’an palaces without obstacle. Not only serving the Huai’an Prince’s Empress Dowager thoroughly, but also gaining Empress Yue’s regard and His Majesty’s praise.'”
The deposed empress leaving the palace two or three times yearly was no small matter, yet his sister handled it flawlessly—first having imperial physicians open the scene, saying prolonged palace residence was unfavorable for the Huai’an Prince’s Empress Dowager’s recovery. So the Emperor had the Huai’an Prince’s Empress Dowager recuperate at an imperial villa. But because Empress Yue often went there to bathe in hot springs, the Grand Empress Dowager refused to go. So the Emperor established another estate (the Grand Empress Dowager’s private property, under Shaoshang’s full control) for her recovery. Thus the Censorate said nothing.
Innocent, carefree children are all pampered and spoiled. Without anyone to depend on, one must learn to read people’s expressions. That’s why his sister was so attached to the Grand Empress Dowager. It had nothing to do with the Grand Empress Dowager’s talent, insight, temperament, or methods—only because his sister could rely on her wholeheartedly.
“His Majesty was right.” After a long silence, Shaoshang finally said: “I think east and west, fear this and that. Actually it’s just two words—cowardly. What’s to fear from suffering losses? Fall into a pit, gain wisdom. What does falling down matter? Get up and keep walking. What’s important is whether I still want to spend my remaining years with that person.”
—Self-respect is something that can’t be absent. Compromising without any bottom line is self-degradation and self-cheapening—no one will sympathize with someone debasing themselves. But one also can’t have too much. Holding oneself too high and aloof makes it easy to miss wonderful people and events.
“Well said.” Palace Steward Cheng patted her shoulder—Niaoniao had grown up, but he was still sad.
This sadness didn’t last long. Like most boy-girl twins who’d been kicking each other since the womb, in less than two hours, Palace Steward Cheng wanted to strangle his sister again.
After the noon rest, Shaoshang ordered the convoy to continue. They expected to reach the next post station before dark. Two hours after departure, the convoy paused to rest at a wooden-palisade tavern at a fork in the road. The Cheng siblings very generously ordered a large pile of local game and specialties—preserved meat, dried bamboo shoots, dried meat, salted fish—having the martial maids send them down for the guard troops to share.
There weren’t many merchants in the tavern, coming and going from all directions, but only Shaoshang’s party was heading south. Hearing this, the tavern’s old proprietor quickly said: “Honored guests, the southern official road was blocked a few days ago by trees and rocks rolling down the mountain slope. Right now the government is busy with land surveys and suppressing rebellions—can’t spare hands to clear the road for a while. Guests might as well take the canyon road on the west side. Actually it’s even closer.”
Shaoshang’s brows furrowed lightly. She didn’t speak.
Palace Steward Cheng quickly asked: “How does one take that canyon road? Is it far? Can carriages pass easily? Can we reach the post station before dark?”
The old proprietor smiled: “Yes, yes, all yes. Actually this canyon road was the original southern official road. Later, because merchants traveling to Yang and Jing provinces increased, they found that road narrow. Mm, around the time of the previous dynasty’s Emperor Xuan, the court dispatched a large army south to pacify tribal rebellions. Military supplies and provisions had to be transported in batches. The government simply opened a new, wider, flatter official road.”
Palace Steward Cheng felt relieved and repeatedly expressed thanks.
Shaoshang smiled charmingly: “Many thanks, old sir. Then we’ll take the western canyon road. Today we’re fated to meet. Old sir, why not tell us about other mountain streams and small paths nearby? Your precious locality has excellent scenery. After we siblings complete our business, we’d like to tour around.”
As she spoke, she grabbed a handful of copper coins from her pouch as a reward. The old proprietor was overjoyed and immediately stopped attending other merchants, sitting before the Cheng siblings to explain everything in detail.
Just when Palace Steward Cheng thought everything was going smoothly, who knew that barely half an hour after leaving the tavern, Shaoshang suddenly ordered the convoy to turn around, taking a side path to bypass that tavern and heading toward the supposedly blocked official road.
Palace Steward Cheng was greatly alarmed and hurriedly asked what had happened.
Shaoshang remained calm and composed: “Nothing. I just feel something’s not right.”
“What’s not right? That old gentleman has run a tavern there his whole life. Would he deceive you?!”
Shaoshang smiled: “Third Brother, you want to go east, I want to go west. You and I, brother and sister, each hold to our opinion. Do you think our subordinates will listen to me or to you?”
Palace Steward Cheng looked at the two guards standing behind his sister, eyes bright and piercing. He smacked his lips a few times and said helplessly: “Fine. Anyway, completing the Grand Empress Dowager’s dying wish isn’t urgent. If you want to detour back to look, then detour.”
It wasn’t that he was agreeable—circumstances were stronger than people.
This convoy’s martial maids, guards, and retainers totaled over a hundred people. Because the Cheng Shi and Cheng Zhi brothers also needed people, only twenty percent of the convoy were Cheng family garrison troops, commanded by Palace Steward Cheng’s personal guard Fu Deng. The rest were all Shaoshang’s people.
They were originally orphans of fallen soldiers that the Grand Empress Dowager had gathered and cared for in earlier years. Upon reaching adulthood, they were enrolled in the Empress’s guard. After the Xuan clan mother and son were deposed, they were unwilling to transfer under Yue clan command. Moreover, to avoid suspicion, it wasn’t good to join under the various princes and princesses. So the Grand Empress Dowager entrusted them to Shaoshang.
Shaoshang had wealth and estates, plus father, brothers, and uncles skilled in leading troops and fighting. Over these five or six years, she had trained and disciplined them according to Cheng clan retainer regulations, and looked after their families. At the time, Madam Xiao had sighed that human calculations couldn’t match heaven’s calculations. Originally she had taught Cheng Yang many skills hand-to-hand, but now they hadn’t been used. Instead, the daughter she thought wouldn’t need them had to be thoroughly competent in everything.
After another hour-plus, the convoy finally quietly circled back to the southern official road. Everyone saw it was indeed flat and wide, easily allowing eight supply wagons to travel side by side. Unfortunately, after advancing several miles, everyone saw rocks and trees over two men high blocking the way ahead.
Palace Steward Cheng hurriedly said: “You see! That old gentleman didn’t deceive us. This road truly can’t be traveled!”
Instead, Shaoshang dismounted and walked over to carefully observe that pile of huge rocks and miscellaneous wood.
Palace Steward Cheng had no choice but to get off the carriage and follow, crouching beside his sister repeatedly asking ‘what’s wrong, what’s wrong?’
Shaoshang stood up, her expression grave: “Does Third Brother know why the government builds official roads?”
Shaoshang was speechless: “…It’s getting dark. If we don’t leave, we’ll have to sleep in the wild. I’ll take you to hear the master’s lecture later.”
Shaoshang ignored him and continued on her own: “Official road, official road—to put it plainly, it was originally for government use. What does the government use it for? Officials traveling back and forth, merchants passing through—these are all secondary. The First Emperor dispatched a hundred thousand troops and civilians to build the eight-hundred-mile speedway—it was to more swiftly and conveniently dispatch armies and supply vehicles.”
“Therefore, official road construction has its particulars. Except in the direst emergency, it absolutely cannot be built through deep mountains and dense forests. Best is flat terrain, unobstructed front, back, left, and right, not easy for people to set ambushes and launch secret attacks.”
Shaoshang hummed: “Huo Buyi told you all this, right?”
Shaoshang rolled her eyes at him: “Didn’t Father tell the elder brothers? It’s just that you let it go in one ear and out the other.”
“I know all this! What exactly are you trying to say?!”
Shaoshang continued: “Before leaving, I asked His Highness the Crown Prince’s permission to borrow Yu Province maps from the Hongwen Hall to look at. This official road is flat throughout, with only one section having a small mountain on the east side…”
Shaoshang looked up, pointing at the small mountain ahead on the east side: “That’s right. It seems this is that small mountain. Probably heavy rain washed down mountain rocks, which then rolled down together with trees. Last month there were continuous summer thunderstorms and torrential rains. Several mountain ranges near the capital collapsed with mudslides that nearly flooded villages.”
Shaoshang said word by word: “But that old gentleman said this official road was only blocked a few days ago. It’s already autumn—where would torrential rain come from?!”
Shaoshang froze.
Shaoshang pointed at that pile of rocks and giant trees: “Look carefully again. Does this look like it was washed down by torrential rain? The trees are dry, the soil firm. The sun-facing sides of these rocks are almost all clean and dry. If they’d been washed down with mudslides after torrential rain, how could they not be wrapped in mud and sand?!”
Shaoshang was horrified. After a long while he finally said: “This is someone deliberately pushing these rocks and trees down from the mountain to block the official road!”
Shaoshang said coolly: “Can’t say for certain. Sometimes mountain people improperly logging and quarrying stone can also cause such disasters. However, someone like me with bad luck since childhood must be doubly careful—careful steering allows ten thousand years of sailing.”
“Then let’s quickly go back and take a different road!” Shaoshang said firmly.
Shaoshang said: “It’s dark. If we travel by torchlight at night, wouldn’t we become living targets?”
“Then what do you want to do?!”
“Avoid this area by several miles, extinguish fires, and wait quietly until tomorrow morning.”
Shaoshang angrily objected: “Since you know something’s wrong, why continue staying outside? Better to hurry back!”
Shaoshang dusted off the mud on her hands, stubbornly saying: “No. We can’t travel through the night.”
Shaoshang was also angry: “I’m your elder brother. Listen to me!”
Shaoshang could bear it no longer and launched an indiscriminate attack accumulated over several years—
“Years ago when Rebel Fan rebelled in Yan Province, Third Uncle insisted on entering Qing County to see his senior fellow student. I said this was improper. If Qing County had already fallen into trouble, Third Uncle entering would be like a meat bun hitting a dog—gone forever. If Qing County was fine, what did it matter whether we entered or not? I said ‘now the situation ahead is unclear. We don’t have many escorts. We shouldn’t act rashly. Better to return to Chenliu Commandery, clarify the reasons, then make plans’—but no one listened to me.” Aunt Sang didn’t understand these things. Hateful was that pig-head uncle!
“Before parting, Third Uncle embraced his wife and daughter, shed a few tears, then went to Qing County with a tragic ‘wind whistling and water cold’ appearance. Before leaving he even instructed us to continue to Hua County. And the result? The result? Auntie and I nearly perished completely, died without intact corpses!” The last sentence Shaoshang nearly shouted. That meal of roasted human flesh remained her nightmare.
Shaoshang said awkwardly: “Third Uncle is a scholar, naturally… that, doesn’t quite understand…”
“The second year someone impeached Uncle Wan for oppressing the common people. We siblings went to find him. On the return journey, I said since there had already been several waves of assassins, we’d rather walk a few extra steps on the official road than take shortcuts through dense forest—did anyone listen to me? Did anyone listen to me?! Uncle Wan even laughed at my cowardice. You and Sister Qiqi laughed especially hard. Second Brother only hesitated. And then? What happened after? What happened after?! If not for… him coming to rescue… we would have all perished again!”
Palace Steward Cheng had also been present then and knew this was true, so he could only laugh dryly and play dumb.
“Third Brother, I’m telling you—I’ve been holding these two grievances for many years! For the sake of Uncle’s and Uncle Wan’s dignity as grown men, I never spoke out!” The more Shaoshang thought about it, the angrier she became. It was because of these unreliable male elders that she owed that person more and more. Who knew when she could repay it all.
“There’s one more thing I’ve long wanted to say. Although I’m young, aside from Father, Mother, and Third Auntie, doesn’t Third Brother think I’m the smartest person in the family?” Shaoshang’s momentum was alarming, eyes shooting fire. Palace Steward Cheng, covered in spittle, practically shrank beneath the horse’s belly.
“Since I’m smarter than all of you, why can’t you obediently listen to me?!!”
Palace Steward Cheng: …Fine, fine, fine. You’re right about everything, isn’t that good enough?