Today was the Empress Dowager’s sixtieth birthday. His Majesty dutifully spoke a few customary pleasantries. The palace’s chief eunuch brought out the gift list and was preparing to read it aloud when the Empress Dowager waved her hand to interrupt, “Enough, let’s dispense with all this. It’s rare to have so many people gathered together for a birthday celebration—don’t let all these formalities waste our time.”
The chief eunuch looked at Emperor Xuande beside him with difficulty. Seeing him nod, he had someone remove the gift list and withdrew. Emperor Xuande was first to raise his cup to congratulate the Empress Dowager on her birthday. All the officials also rose and raised their cups, wishing the Empress Dowager a thousand autumns. After this cup, the banquet officially began, and the atmosphere in the garden became somewhat more relaxed.
Palace maids and attendants flowed like water between the tables, presenting fine wines and delicacies. On the stage, instruments resounded again and song and dance resumed. The Imperial Princes from each palace came forward one by one to toast the Empress Dowager and celebrate her great birthday.
Marquis Dingbei sat closest to the Empress Dowager. When toasting, he said something unknown that caused the Empress Dowager to grasp his hand with mixed joy and sorrow, sighing repeatedly. The Empress Dowager had borne three children in total—besides Emperors Xuanping and Xuande, there was also a younger daughter, Princess Mingyang, who was Xia Xiuyan’s birth mother. Mingyang had been raised at the Empress Dowager’s side since childhood and was most beloved by her. Unfortunately, she died young not long after her marriage, leaving only this one son, Xia Xiuyan. Therefore, the Empress Dowager was especially devoted to him. In earlier years when Xia Xiuyan was in the capital, she often summoned him to the palace to look after him. Now, not having seen him for many years, her heart ached even more.
“Mingyang’s fate was too shallow—she couldn’t watch you grow to adulthood. Now that you’ve returned safely, I can finally give your mother an accounting.” The Empress Dowager held Xia Xiuyan’s hand, speaking while unable to help wiping away tears.
Everyone nearby busily offered consolation. Xia Xiuyan also said, “If Mother knew that on such a joyous day I had made Grandmother cry, she would blame me.”
At these words, the Empress Dowager’s tears turned to laughter, “That’s right. This dowager must see you establish a household and career on your mother’s behalf.” As she spoke, she turned back to Emperor Xuande and said, “Yan’er delayed his marriage until now due to campaigning abroad. He’s not young anymore—as his uncle, you absolutely must take his marriage to heart.”
Emperor Xuande smiled helplessly, “Mother, rest assured. This matter is in my thoughts.”
“You manage ten thousand affairs daily. You agree today, but I fear tomorrow you’ll turn around and forget.” The Empress Dowager chided, seeming to make a firm resolution as she tightly grasped her grandson’s hand. “This dowager will personally arrange this matter and find a good match for Yan’er.”
Left Chancellor Wu Guangda laughed from his seat, “The Empress Dowager can rest easy. If one could marry Marquis Dingbei, every noble lady in the capital would seek it desperately.”
These words greatly pleased the Empress Dowager. The surrounding ministers also all laughed in agreement. Xia Xiuyan lowered his head with lips slightly curved, allowing the teasing without saying anything. For a moment, ruler and ministers were harmonious—from a distance, it was truly a most delightful scene.
Zhou Xianyi sat among them with a gaze that seemed somewhat envious, sighing, “The Xia heir is of the same age as us, yet has already surpassed ordinary imperial clansmen by far.”
Qiu Xinran said calmly, “You can listen to the Left Chancellor’s words if you like, but if you don’t believe me, try asking him to truly marry his daughter to Marquis Dingbei—see if he’d be willing.”
Zhou Xianyi, hearing these words, hadn’t had time to inquire further when they heard a cold snort from someone nearby. The two simultaneously turned their gazes over and only then discovered that seated beside Qiu Xinran was a military officer. Judging by his dark complexion, prominent eyes, and imposing aura, he should be from the military ranks. At this moment, he was looking sidelong at the person beside him, saying indignantly, “Marquis Dingbei’s military achievements are illustrious, his appearance and birth are all first-rate—isn’t he a hundred times better than certain people who only know how to speak sour words here?”
Zhou Xianyi’s face showed some embarrassment, but Qiu Xinran remained pleasant and unhurried, “My lord misunderstands. This humble Daoist’s words were not saying Marquis Dingbei is inferior to anyone.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“Marquis Dingbei has returned to the capital only to rest temporarily. If an ordinary noble lady forms a marriage alliance with him, she would have to leave the capital afterward. Many imperial clansmen, due to this consideration, are mostly unwilling to have their daughters marry far away.”
Her words were neither humble nor arrogant. The man, hearing this, finally softened his tone somewhat, though he remained unconvinced, “Even so, families that cannot endure such hardship are ones our Marquis would certainly look down upon anyway.”
Zhou Xianyi looked at her with a puzzled expression, “How do you know Marquis Dingbei certainly won’t reside in the capital long?”
Qiu Xinran paused, choosing to directly skip his question. She looked at the person beside her and asked, “My lord said ‘our Marquis’ earlier?”
This question indeed diverted Zhou Xianyi as well, and he followed with a puzzled look at the person nearby.
The military officer, having inadvertently let them hear his identity, couldn’t help but redden slightly, but he didn’t hide it much, saying righteously, “I am He Zhong, Vice General at Marquis Dingbei’s side. I accompanied the Marquis here to celebrate the birthday.”
Upon hearing he was actually someone from Xia Xiuyan’s side, Qiu Xinran couldn’t help but freeze, secretly regretting having spoken too much earlier. She turned her head awkwardly, not wishing to converse with him further. However, Zhou Xianyi, upon hearing this, was greatly energized, straightening his back and cupping his hands, “Commander He! I’ve heard your great name in the capital—I’ve long admired you! I am Zhou Xianyi.”
He Zhong was stunned, not expecting such a reaction from the other party. For a moment, he felt somewhat embarrassed instead and hurriedly returned the salute, “Lord Zhou is too kind.”
When Zhou Xianyi said he had heard of He Zhong’s great name, it was clearly not just courtesy. He truly had been paying attention to Xia Xiuyan’s years beyond the passes, to the point where he knew intimately the several major battles fought by the Changwu Army under Xia Xiuyan’s command over the years. After exchanging a few words, the two immediately felt they had met too late, wishing they could drink and converse all night long.
Qiu Xinran silently covered her face in her heart, then suddenly heard He Zhong hesitantly begin, “Brother Zhou, to be honest, there’s something I want to ask you about.”
Zhou Xianyi had clinked several cups with him, and now with wine going to his head, he said straightforwardly, “Commander He, speak freely!”
“At the frontier, I often heard people say that our Marquis, dragging his sick body to rush to the frontier in a life-or-death situation, was entirely because His Majesty then gave biased credence to a demonic Daoist’s slander…”
Qiu Xinran’s heart suddenly surged with an ominous premonition. Sure enough, immediately after, she heard He Zhong say indignantly, “This time coming to the capital, I wanted to see exactly who that demonic Daoist was. If he’s still in the capital, I must certainly give him a proper lesson!”
Zhou Xianyi, hearing this, had eyes that flickered left and right evasively, “Ahem… this matter, this matter I heard… that Daoist afterward left the capital, and who knows… who knows what became of him.”
He Zhong, hearing this, was greatly disappointed indeed, sighing, “Forget it. When there’s a chance, I’ll find someone to investigate and see if I can find that demonic Daoist’s whereabouts.”
Zhou Xianyi looked awkwardly at Qiu Xinran beside him, finding it remarkable that after hearing these words, she could still maintain a composed expression as she raised the wine cup before her and took a sip. Zhou Xianyi pulled He Zhong along to toast several more rounds, laughing it off to change the subject.
Halfway through the banquet, Qiu Xinran excused herself from her seat. At this time, Zhou Xianyi didn’t dare ask her anything, simply letting her leave.
This Imperial Garden was quite large. Fortunately, she was extremely familiar with this place. After emerging from the crowd, she strolled leisurely through the garden, planning to return to the courtyard after the banquet was nearly over. With such thoughts, she unknowingly walked to a lakeside and discovered someone was already standing by the shore. The other party, hearing her footsteps, turned around. Qiu Xinran froze, quickly bowing and cupping her hands, “Teacher.”
This person was precisely the Director of the Bureau of Astronomy, Bai Jingming. He was also originally a divination disciple of the Nine Sects of Jingxu Mountain. Properly speaking, Qiu Xinran should call him martial uncle. Counting by years, he should be in his forties, but in appearance he seemed only just past thirty, clean-shaven with a very refined bearing. Though he served in the court, he wore Daoist robes year-round, and in ordinary times His Majesty showed him considerable respect.
Qiu Xinran had sojourned in the capital for three years in her youth, studying star observation and divination methods under Bai Jingming, residing in the Bureau of Astronomy’s official quarters. Counting carefully, the two had not seen each other for seven years.
Bai Jingming, seeing her, was not surprised, “When did you descend from the mountain?”
“Not long ago. I just settled in Chang’an and originally planned to visit you in a few days, Teacher.”
“Why did you descend this time?”
Qiu Xinran paused slightly, “Master said I had completed my studies—she had nothing more to teach me.”
Bai Jingming nodded, “Seven years ago when Baoyu Daoren wrote asking me to look after you, she said you were the disciple with the best natural talent among her students.”
Qiu Xinran made no sound. Baoyu Daoren had also said this to her many times, so she didn’t falsely demur. Bai Jingming continued, “Do you have any plans for the future?”
Qiu Xinran hesitated slightly, “Not yet.”
“You came to the Bureau of Astronomy seven years ago. If you’re willing, you can come to me again.”
Qiu Xinran thought for a moment and said honestly, “In star observation and celestial phenomena, I’m inferior to Yuan Zhou.”
Yuan Zhou was Bai Jingming’s personally transmitted disciple. The two had studied together under Bai Jingming seven years ago. Hearing her refusal, the other party showed no displeasure, only starting a different topic to ask, “Seven years ago you said you didn’t know why you studied divination. Do you know now?”
Qiu Xinran paused. After a moment she said, “Ten years ago I found one half at Yongming Palace. Perhaps now I can find the other half in the marketplace.”
“What if you never find it?”
“Master said not everyone can necessarily attain the Dao. If I don’t find it, that too is my Dao.”
Bai Jingming smiled, “Having rolled through the red dust for decades, this junior martial sister has surpassed me through cultivation in the mountains.”
“There is Dao in the mountains, and also Dao in the red dust.” Qiu Xinran also raised her head with a smile. “When Master sent me down the mountain ten years ago, she probably had this in mind.”
The two stood by the lakeside conversing for a while longer. At the end, as they were leaving, Bai Jingming suddenly brought up, “Marquis Dingbei is also among the seated guests today. Have you seen him?”
The smile on Qiu Xinran’s face froze, and she said awkwardly, “I haven’t had the chance to pay respects yet.”
“That matter from back then…” Bai Jingming paused and shook his head. “Forget it. If you don’t happen to encounter him, there’s no need to specifically seek an audience.”
Qiu Xinran smiled wryly and cupped her hands, “Teacher is right.”
After Bai Jingming left, in this empty Imperial Garden, only she remained. Qiu Xinran stood by the lakeside, watching tonight’s moonlight fall on the lake’s center, gently rippling across the pool of clear radiance. By her ears were low insect chirps, making this place seem even more tranquil, as if in these darkly quiet heavens and earth, only she remained.
Suddenly, she sighed and said, “The spring cold is harsh—how much longer does this patron intend to stand here?” The garden was utterly silent. Qiu Xinran turned around, seemingly speaking to someone unknown, “Since it’s like this, this humble Daoist will no longer disturb this patron’s refined interest here.”
She had just lifted her foot to leave when the surroundings finally showed some movement. From behind a nearby artificial hill, a person emerged. Qiu Xinran stood in place, somewhat curious about who had come. When that person drew near and stood under a lamp, she froze in place.
Marquis Dingbei wore a moon-white satin robe today, broad shoulders and narrow waist, with romantic eyebrows and eyes. Perhaps because he had drunk quite a bit earlier at the banquet, the corners of his eyes were slightly flushed under the lamplight, as if steeped in spring water. He slowly paced before her, raising an eyebrow to look at her. Before speaking, his lips curved in a three-part smile, “Clerk Qiu, have you been well since we parted?”