Chapter 146 The Mourning: Was she back? It was because I missed her so much…
Inside the Taiji Hall, Xie Wenjun, dressed in mourning clothes, sat slightly to the side on a futon on the east side. The sun moved into the hall through the window and then slowly sank to the west.
Xie Wenjun's hand, which was supporting her forehead, suddenly sank, and she woke up with a start. The doors of the Taiji Hall were pushed open, and the night wind that swept in made the white banners in front of the altar flutter in waves.
A tall, slender figure stepped in.
For several days in a row, Xie Wenjun traveled back and forth between the Princess's residence and the palace day and night to handle official business. The time spent keeping vigil was also too long. She had hardly slept in recent days. When weariness came over her, her vision became blurred, and the outline of the red lacquered table placed by the Ministry of Rites on the side of the Taiji Hall seemed to be swaying.
The transcribed vigil book on the table indeed listed Chen Liangyu's name this morning and evening.
Are you back?
Ah Li.
The candlelight flickered violently on the bronze crane lamp stand, casting the enormous coffin deep within the mourning hall into alternating light and shadow.
With so many affairs in the North, she thought she wouldn't be able to return in time.
Xie Wenjun's thoughts were a jumbled mess, impossible to form. Her body reacted before her thoughts could process them; almost instinctively, she let herself turn further toward that figure.
"The Eldest Princess."
The three words, crystal clear, were Chen Xingqian's voice.
...
All was silent.
Xie Wenjun abruptly withdrew her hand, which was halfway outstretched, and straightened herself up. This action was quite unbecoming for Xie Wenjun.
The water clock in the Taiji Hall ticked away. Chen Luan's expression, besides surprise, also held an indescribable, yet knowing, embarrassment. He probably understood.
Chen Luan said, "I am here today to serve in place of Liang Yu."
Including his own time, he will have to stay up all night.
Xie Wenjun yawned very lightly, her eyes stinging with weariness. She rubbed her temples and decided to move to the side hall to rest.
Chen Liangyu and Chen Xingqian bore no resemblance whatsoever, yet in that moment of utter confusion, she mistook Chen Xingqian for her.
Or rather, at that moment, she really wanted her to be the one to come.
Is it because you miss her too much?
Palace servants filed in to add lamp oil, their footsteps light so as not to disturb those in the hall or the coffin. Chen Xingqian knelt on the prayer mat on the west side, kowtowed, and then rose to add a stick of incense.
The night wind grew stronger, and several muffled claps of thunder rolled across the horizon, indicating that a sudden rainstorm was imminent. The palace servants closed the doors of the Taiji Hall again, and the candlelight and white banners gradually stopped flickering and trembling.
Chen Luan dismissed the palace servants of Taiji Hall and the officials on duty from the Ministry of Rites under various pretexts, leaving only a few of Xie Wenjun's personal maids. "Your Highness, there is something I wish to say."
Seeing the thoughtful look in his eyes, Xie Wenjun dismissed his attendants.
Chen Luan spoke up, "Your Highness wishes to abolish the hereditary system of the 'Records of Ten Thousand Officials,' but the court needs someone to break this deadlock."
"You want to recommend Han Song?"
Chen Luan had been humbling himself to lobby for Han Song among the virtuous scholars from Hanhong Academy, and had even visited the siblings Gu Xie and Gu Heng several times. After laying the groundwork, he finally gave Xie Wenjun face.
“Exactly.” Chen Luan readily agreed. “He was imprisoned for a case and suffered hardship for ten years. He witnessed the plight of scholars from humble backgrounds and saw through the deep-seated problems of noble children taking up positions through family connections.” He pulled out a scroll from his robes, held the edge tightly, and solemnly handed it forward. “Your Highness may take a look. This policy essay was written by him over several years starting from the third year of the Zhenyuan era. It lists the harms of family connections and includes specific regulations for reducing redundancy. In my humble opinion, this essay has the power to scrape the bone.”
Chen Luan brought an unfinished draft, which Han Song had left behind at the Marquis of Xuanping's residence shortly after Han Song joined the Sifang Academy and went to drink with him. Some parts were circled and revised repeatedly, and the ink stains were very heavy.
After reading a few lines, Xie Wenjun's expression turned solemn.
That day at the Sifang Pavilion, when Xie Wenjun encountered Han Song, he directly confronted her. She immediately realized that this man was the type who, even knowing there was a wall ahead, would still clench his fists and charge headlong into it. She was right; this man was fearless, and his sharp edge remained undiminished even under the pressure of powerful families.
He was a sharp axe that could chop wood, but it didn't have a handle.
Moreover, those who curry favor with powerful families and engage in cheating and factionalism before the imperial examinations, even if highly talented, may not truly possess a heart for the country and its people. Such reckless ruthlessness, even if it can break through existing barriers, is difficult to tame, and could easily harm one's own people. Furthermore, Han Song, like most officials in the court, has always regarded Xie Wenjun as the core of the old faction upholding the hereditary system.
Whether or not to use this person, and whether or not he is even suitable for use, Xie Wenjun still needs to consider further.
Chen Luan said, “Han Sheren comes from a humble family and has no ancestral privileges to rely on, yet he dares to touch upon the deep-rooted problems that high-ranking officials in the court dare not touch. If the Princess is willing to take him under her wing, I am willing to act as her guarantor.”
He summoned Han Song from Cangnan and recommended him to the Sifang Pavilion. Although Han Song had asked for his help in the past, he was busy fighting with powerful families in the court. It seemed brave, but it was actually dangerous. Chen Luan advised him that "if the water is too clear, there will be no fish." He only replied that "to clear silt, one must dredge; to remove rot, one must gouge out," and then turned around and rushed to the emperor with his memorial as usual.
By becoming a disciple of the Eldest Princess, Xie Wenjun was able to save his life.
Even if there is only a sliver of hope.
Xie Wenjun was in a deep mood. After a long while, she finally hummed in agreement and turned to head towards the side hall.
During that brief lull, footsteps could be heard outside the Taiji Hall.
The palace doors opened from the inside, and a few raindrops fell from the sky, wetting the stone steps in front of the palace. In an instant, they were wiped away by the night wind, like a few drops of water accidentally spilled by a sweeping eunuch.
Zhai Yu came in with her hairpins removed, dressed in simple clothes, followed by a maid holding an umbrella.
Xie Wenjun and Chen Luan were puzzled when they saw her. The day for women and concubines to come to the palace to mourn was not today. The empress and concubines could simply observe a vegetarian meal and mourn in their own palaces. It was already late, so what was she doing at Taiji Hall?
Zhai Yu's gaze swept over Chen Luan, then landed on Xie Wenjun. "Your Highness, Lord Chen, I have come to add incense to the late Emperor's offerings."
Xie Wenjun bowed slightly to her, offering a curtsy.
Since Xie Yuan decided to take concubines, the ranks of the existing concubines in the harem have also changed according to the emperor's will. Only the empress and Consort Shu have given birth to princes, thus contributing to the continuation of the imperial line. Later, Chen Liangyu conquered Hudong, and Zhai Yu was shocked and gave birth a month early. Before she had finished her postpartum confinement, she dragged her weak body to congratulate the emperor on his expansion of territory. Xie Yuan was moved that she, as a member of the Northern Yong royal family, was of one mind with him and could uphold the great principles in matters of state. He immediately bestowed the name "Fei Ying" upon the Second Prince. After Zhai Yu finished her postpartum confinement, she was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort.
There were also palace maids who said that after the Emperor bestowed a name upon the Second Prince, the Consort threw a huge tantrum in her palace. The Empress's eldest son was named "Fei Cong". Cong means heaven and earth and the state, while Ying, although it means pearl and jade, seems like something left over from the Empress.
Zhai Yu slightly curtsied in return for Wen Jun's greeting.
The palace servants on duty at Taiji Hall lit incense and handed it to Zhai Yu. She personally placed the new incense into the burner, bowed three times, but did not linger. She turned and left with her entourage. As she left, she looked at the Ministry of Rites official waiting outside the door and said, "Official, you must be careful when you write. Han Song, Han Sheren Cao, was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison by order because he did not avoid using the Empress Dowager's name when drafting the imperial edict. This afternoon, Commander Jiang personally went to arrest him."
Chen Luan's heart skipped a beat.
At dusk, the palace gates began to clear out idle personnel from the palace. Those not on duty returned to their residences, and the gates of the palace courtyards were locked one after another, prohibiting palace staff from moving around at will.
It was nearly 7 PM, the palace gates were locked, and the night curfew was about to begin.
There was no time to leave the palace; all I could do was wait until dawn.
Jiang Andong personally carried out the imperial decree to arrest Han Song, who is now likely imprisoned in the imperial jail. Arresting a scholar would normally be handled by the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review; why would the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards need to personally detain him? If Jiang Andong intends to seek revenge, Han Song will undoubtedly suffer during his night confinement in the palace. Whether out of old friendship or to clarify this sudden turn of events, he will go to the imperial jail first thing tomorrow morning to find out the truth.
Xie Wenjun also wondered why Zhai Yu, who had no close relationship with anyone in the harem, would deliberately come to the Taiji Hall before curfew to reveal matters of the previous dynasty. What was she trying to hide?
Before long, the rain inside the palace walls became denser.
The maidservant held the umbrella over Zhai Yu's head.
As soon as Zhai Yu turned through Qixiang Gate, she saw several people walking out of the rain curtain between the palace walls. One person was in front, and two eunuchs, one holding an umbrella and the other carrying a lantern, led the way.
The woman approaching was dressed in black, still covered in the dust of battle, and had not yet changed into mourning clothes. She stopped a few steps away from Zhai Yu, cupped her hands, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Chen Liangyu's tone when greeting the soldiers was like that of someone giving orders in a military tent.
Zhai Yu's gaze swept over the heavy wooden box in her hand. The wooden box was made by craftsmen from Beiyong and was especially common in Yunya Town.
Yunya Military Town is now part of the territory of Dalin.
Zhai Yu said, "General, you've worked hard."
Chen Liangyu took half a step back, making way for him.
"General, please."
"Your Majesty, please go first."
...
Finally, Zhai Yu took the first step, and as she brushed past Chen Liangyu, she let out a low hum.
A moment later, the rain intensified suddenly, and the distant palace walls became a blurry, watery blur in the field of vision. The eunuchs standing outside the Taiji Hall silently tightened the straps of their raincoats.
After Zhai Yu left, Xie Wenjun, despite her weariness, carefully folded the draft of the policy essay that Chen Luan had presented to her and put it into a brocade bag.
The Taiji Hall was extremely quiet. Xie Wenjun suddenly said, "Bring him to my residence to see me another day."
Chen Luan was taken aback, then bowed and agreed.
The rain was sudden and heavy. Rainwater poured down the eaves of the Taiji Hall, forming curtains of water that flowed onto the ground, carrying fallen leaves and into the drainage channels on both sides.
Xie Wenjun stood under the corridor for a moment, looking north, only to see layers of palaces. She wondered if it was sunny or rainy in the north, and whether she was asleep. Or perhaps she was still at war, munching on dry rations in some trench.
The wind, carrying the scent of rain, brushed against my face, easing my weariness somewhat.
Xie Wenjun was lost in thought when she saw a figure in black walk in against the rain at the corner of the covered walkway leading from Jiazhi Gate to Taiji Hall.
Chen Liangyu naturally saw the familiar figure on the steps and quickened his pace.
The eunuch holding the umbrella couldn't keep up with her pace, so he had to hold the umbrella up and try his best to shield her head.
Xie Wenjun felt as if something had rammed open her chest, her gaze fixed on that person without blinking.
Until the man climbed the steps, his military boots making a splashing sound as he stepped onto the steps, and stood in front of Xie Wenjun.
She called out, "Your Highness."
The longing and anxiety that had accumulated over countless days and nights suddenly turned into a trembling, weak feeling.
Xie Wenjun gazed at her rain-dampened temples, momentarily forgetting to ask a question. The rain continued to fall, and the palace lanterns under the eaves swayed in the wind, casting long shadows of Chen Liangyu. Weary from her journey, she seemed to have stepped from the sandstorms of the northern border into the rain-soaked depths of the palace.
"Why is Your Highness standing outside the hall? It's windy and humid," Chen Liangyu reached out to help her, but then noticed several unfamiliar faces outside the Taiji Hall, so he withdrew his hand and leaned into the hall. "Let's go inside first."
Why are you back?
Hearing the commotion, Chen Luan also came out of the Taiji Hall. Upon seeing each other, Chen Liangyu hadn't had time to put on the usual formalities; her eyes clearly revealed...
It was as if he were some uninvited guest.
Chen Luan put his hands behind his back and said, "I'm just accompanying you."
"Thank you for your hard work, Second Brother."
Chen Liangyu walked straight to the altar, silently lifted the hem of her battle robe, and knelt down. After completing the three kneelings and nine kowtows, Chen Liangyu did not immediately rise. Her gaze remained fixed on the ever-burning lamp in front of Emperor Xuanyuan's coffin, as if she were in deep meditation.
When news of the Emperor Emeritus's passing reached the northern border, Jingming, Bu Ping'er, and Lin Yin took turns advising her that the war had just ended, the journey home was long, and there were many changes in Yongdu, so there was no need to rush back to the palace to offer condolences.
But she couldn't help being anxious.
Xie Wenjun may seem cold and hard, but she is actually very sentimental. Right now, she's probably suffering alone somewhere.
Besides worrying that Xie Wenjun would be alone to comfort and accompany her, she also thought back to several years ago when Emperor Xuanyuan defied the opposition of his ministers to appoint her as the commander of the Southern Army and bestowed upon her the founding sword. Looking back, all the encounters in her life after that day began.
She remembered this favor for many years. Now that Emperor Xuanyuan has passed away, not because of his imperial lineage, nor entirely for her grandmother and father, she has come back to pay her respects.
Author's note: Thank you for reading this far!
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