Chapter 104 Daiqing Marries Far Away to the Grasslands
On the day of Grain in Ear, the Yanzhi Mountain Palace was completed.
Subsequently, Daiqing was granted the title of Princess Jingsui. The auspicious day for the investiture was chosen to be the tenth day of the sixth month. After the Ministry of Rites completed the investiture ceremony, she was to be married off to the grasslands on the same day.
The Court of State Ceremonial was busy with two matters: the relocation of the retired emperor's palace and the marriage alliance with Princess Jingsui.
On June 12th, the Princess's residence sent off the newlyweds.
Outside the mansion, carriages came and went in an endless stream, making the place bustling with activity. The carriage yard was crowded with carriages belonging to officials and their wives from various families. As they stepped out of the carriages, they were all ladies dressed in fine clothes, bringing their most beautiful and outstanding daughters to the Princess's mansion to offer a congratulatory gift for Princess Jingsui's marriage.
The title of princess bestowed by the emperor was very prestigious.
Delegated to a foreign land, she was tasked with pacifying the borders and securing peace. Rather than a marriage, her status was more akin to that of an envoy stationed in another country. Dai Qing carried the mission of maintaining diplomatic relations between the Great Lin and the grasslands.
The ladies came to offer their congratulations in good faith, and also because a position as a lady-in-waiting had become available next to Xie Wenjun, so that their daughters could show their faces before the Princess.
Heng Yang greeted the guests with clasped hands outside the mansion gate.
She was elegant and graceful, with beautiful hair and a lovely face. She would greet everyone she met and go to the mansion to welcome them.
The women in the inner quarters all recognized Heng Yang, the youngest daughter of the Heng family in the Southern Territory, and also the adopted daughter of the eldest princess, so they couldn't help but give her some face. After Heng Miao's failed attack on the Southern Continent and several defeats, people in Yongdu gradually began to look down on Heng Yang.
Some people deliberately avoided her and spat out "bad luck".
Heng Yang didn't seem to care and continued to greet people with a friendly face.
Someone in the crowd laughed heartily, "Oh my, who's so arrogant as to say that girl is unlucky? Let her own family go to the battlefield, she doesn't have the guts."
The woman speaking wore a sapphire blue robe embroidered with cloud and crane patterns; just by looking at her clothes, one could tell she was a person of importance.
The man who spat at the other man turned pale and then went into the mansion.
Heng Yang stepped forward to greet her, "Greetings, Lady Chengyang."
Lady Chengyang patted her forearm and said, “Don’t take those filthy words to heart. I’ll find you a good marriage another day and have the Princess send you off in style. The Marquis of Chengyang’s family will give you a gift even more generous than that given to Princess Jingsui.”
Heng Yang covered her face, remaining composed even when teased. She said, "Alright, Ah Yang awaits the good marriage proposals that Madam may find."
With a few words, the awkwardness was resolved, and the atmosphere in the house became cheerful again.
One carriage was different from the others; as it turned the corner, people stopped and looked back, making way for it.
The nameplate of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence was hanging on the eaves of the carriage.
The crowd whispered among themselves about who from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence would be coming.
Yan Nian was ordered to escort the Crown Prince of Dongyin to the east to count the prisoners of war. Chen Liangyu led troops to the expedition. There were no female relatives in this family. It was probably just a messenger sent to deliver a gift list.
The road in front of the Princess's residence was not narrow, but rather wide. Unfortunately, there were too many visitors today, so the alley was blocked. After finally clearing a path, a child from some family suddenly ran across in front of the carriages and horses, startling them, and they began to stumble and crash through the crowd.
Chaos erupted outside the Princess's residence.
Heng Yang glanced around, grabbed a wooden stick shaped like a carrying pole, spun around, leaped onto the horse's back, tightened the reins, and rammed into a wall.
Before the carriage wrecked and everyone perished, Heng Yang stopped the carriage.
Chen Luan was jostled around inside the carriage. After the carriage came to a stop, he straightened his clothes before lifting the curtain and stepping out. Yun Shu apologized as she followed, carrying the congratulatory gifts.
Heng Yang was standing not far away fixing her clothes and hair when Chen Luan walked straight towards her. "Miss Heng, thank you."
"May Your Excellency be well."
Yun Shu presents congratulatory gifts.
Chen Luan said, "I would be grateful if Miss Heng could pass this on to Princess Jingsui. I am very busy with official business at the Dali Temple, so I will not visit the Princess today."
Heng Yang handed over the brocade box, saying, "On behalf of the princess, I thank the marquis for his generous gift."
As Chen Luan was about to leave, he was immediately surrounded by a group of ladies, who scrutinized and appraised him, each offering their own opinions.
Chen Luan hurriedly bowed to the ladies and struggled to run to the carriage, but was grabbed and pulled back.
“I remember that Marquis Xuanping was also unmarried.”
The speaker was Lady Chengyang.
"Ah Yang, how about this one?"
"Madam of Chengyang, please don't joke about Miss Heng's reputation." Chen Luan looked at Heng Yang for help, as he really couldn't get away from the situation.
The crowd erupted into chaos again, but this time it was because of him.
"Excellent, truly excellent."
"They're a good match."
"I think it's a good idea."
...
Heng Yang almost burst into laughter. Her impression of Chen Xingqian had always been that he was taciturn, aloof, and arrogant. She never imagined he would be so helpless amidst all these women. He even looked somewhat pitiful.
Heng Yang said, "Madam, people usually choose their husbands after the imperial examination results are announced. The imperial examination results haven't even been posted yet, so how come you've already chosen one?"
Lady Chengyang said, "It's a pity that the Marquis of Wu'an just went to Zhudong. As the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, otherwise we could have discussed it with the Marquis of Wu'an this afternoon."
Unable to squeeze through the crowd, Chen Luan could only look at Heng Yang again, "Miss Heng, this..."
Heng Yang chuckled.
After laughing, he said to the ladies, "Madams, the princess must have changed into her wedding dress. Let's go into the mansion first. There are many cases to handle at the Dali Temple. We can discuss the marriage proposal another day."
The ladies then gave up. Before entering the mansion, Heng Yang turned around to look at Chen Luan, who was walking unsteadily, as if fleeing for his life, and even missed a step when getting into the carriage.
Heng Yang bit her lower lip lightly, unable to suppress a secret smile.
Officials and their relatives used to visit each other frequently, and when they met, they would inevitably exchange pleasantries.
The ladies, who were acquainted, gathered around a table for a casual chat.
"The concubine in the palace had a miscarriage. She started bleeding after only a month of pregnancy, and the moxibustion to save the pregnancy did not work."
A lady quickly looked around and waved her hand to stop them from saying anything more.
Consort Shu suffered a miscarriage and insisted that it was due to an evil star in the palace. The high priest who accompanied Consort Shu in her wedding performed a ritual and pointed out that the evil star was Princess Roujia, who had accidentally bumped into Consort Shu's belly a few days ago.
Xie Yuan had suddenly lost one of his sons. Considering the dragon prince in the Empress's womb and fearing another mishap, he disregarded Xun Shuheng's pregnant kneeling outside Chongzheng Hall pleading for mercy and sent Roujia out of the palace.
“Poor Princess Roujia, she’s just a little girl and doesn’t understand anything. If we send her out of the palace, won’t she be mistreated to death by the servants?”
A sudden silence fell over the table.
Such palace secrets shouldn't be discussed, but everyone at the table was a mother, and they were simply feeling sorry for their children.
Gu Xie arrived a little later, followed by a fair-skinned young disciple. She wore a short jacket, her hair was neatly tied in two buns, and she carried a stack of bound books in her hands.
As Gu Xie walked in from outside, he was greeted and bowed to by young ladies from various families.
"I have met the headmaster."
"May you live in peace, Chang'an."
...
Gu Xie nodded and returned the greetings from the young ladies and wives of the various families.
In the wedding hall, Xie Wenjun sat in the high seat, while Daiqing kowtowed three times to bid farewell to the Princess.
Xi Qing was dressed in the wedding attire of the Central Plains. His face was dark, and the bright red of the wedding dress made him look like he had a lump of coal growing out of his clothes, which made people laugh. As the leader of Ximano, he was not required to kneel, but seeing Dai Qing kneel down and kowtow, he also bent down and bowed.
This made Daiqing's nose sting with tears.
Xi Qing was rude and clumsy, and could not understand much of the Central Plains dialect, yet he stubbornly insisted that Dai Qing marry according to the customs of the Central Plains.
In addition to the dowry prepared by the Ministry of Rites according to the list of gifts for the princess's marriage, Dai Qing's dowry also included an extra dowry from Xie Wenjun, which included gold, silver, money, and silk, as well as 600 people such as craftsmen, cooks, and artisans.
Xie Wenjun said, "Rise."
Daiqing's tears fell uncontrollably, "plop, plop."
It wasn't until she put on her wedding dress and said goodbye to Xie Wenjun that she truly understood what it meant for a woman to get married. After this departure, she might never see anyone here again in this lifetime.
Gu Xie gave Hu Nu a push on the lower back.
The clever girl ran over, clutching several precious books she held dear.
"Sister Daiqing."
Her voice was clear and melodious, like the tinkling of silver bells. “I copied the book myself. Don’t cry. My teacher said that I will study the language of the grasslands well so that I can go on a mission as an envoy to visit you on the grasslands in the future.”
When Daiqing saw the word "farming" written on the cover of the top book, she knew that this was the greatest support Xie Wenjun could give her.
She handed the six books to Xiqing.
Xi Qing was deeply grateful. He clenched his fist, placed it on his chest, and bowed in respect. That was the highest form of etiquette in the Ximano tribe.
Dai Qing stretched out her hand, "Swan Girl, come here."
The girl obediently placed her small hand in Dai Qing's palm, and Dai Qing led her step by step to Xie Wenjun.
"Kowtowing to Your Highness."
The young woman then bowed before Xie Wenjun, saying, "Greetings, Princess."
Dai Qing said, "This child was picked up by the General in Linxia. He originally planned to send her to Hanhong Academy to study calligraphy with Gu Shan for two years, and then raise her to be a personal guard when she grew up. However, she really has no talent in martial arts, so it was not appropriate to send her to the General's side. This girl is clever and speaks quickly."
Her rouge was ruined from crying.
Yuan Rong was also sullen and unhappy. She was filled with reluctance.
Xie Wenjun instructed Yuanrong to settle Hu Nu first, and then escorted Daiqing to the outside of the mansion. Daiqing bowed and said, "Your Highness, this servant is leaving. May Your Highness enjoy happiness, health, and lasting blessings in the future."
Xie Wenjun said, "I will see you off."
The Princess's carriage traveled all the way to the outskirts of Shangyong City, and then another ten miles. Ximano's men had gone far away, and Daiqing's red dress was becoming more and more distant, while Xie Wenjun was still standing in the same place.
Her expression was calm, showing no sign of emotion.
Yuan Rong held out an umbrella over her, saying, "Your Highness, the sun is strong, please don't get sunburned."
A small hand slipped something into Xie Wenjun's hand. Xie Wenjun looked and saw that it was a square piece of candy.
The girl looked up and said, "Sister Daiqing said that when His Highness is unhappy, she will give him candy. My teacher doesn't allow me to eat too much, and only gives me one piece of candy each day. This is the one I secretly saved."
Xie Wenjun asked her, "Do you still remember the person who found you?"
"Remember."
Do you miss her?
The girl shook her head. She vaguely remembered that the two people who brought her to the military camp and the two who sent her to the academy were "I don't remember what they looked like. Maybe I'll recognize them when I see them."
Xie Wenjun murmured, "She also likes to buy candy."
The young woman stood on tiptoe and looked into the distance. Compared to the two people she hadn't seen for several years, she missed Daiqing, who had taught her at Lingjiu Academy for half a year, even more.
Even though Dai Qing had only been gone for less than an hour.
"Perhaps Sister Daiqing will change her mind and not marry that grassland man, and then ride back on horseback."
Yuan Rong was amused by the innocent words of a child, and Xie Wenjun pinched the little girl's cheek before leading her into the carriage.
"Rong Jun".
"Your subordinate is here."
"Go to the Imperial Garden."
Rong Jun paused for a moment, then said, "Yes."
The Imperial Garden was once a royal estate where the old Prince Ning lived. It was slightly renovated when the Yanzhi Mountain Palace was built, so it doesn't look so dilapidated.
Roujia was sent here by Xie Yuan to be raised.
The villa was quiet, save for the occasional cry of a crow.
Xie Wenjun alighted from the carriage and walked. The fallen leaves on the ground were unswept, crunching underfoot. The vast imperial garden was devoid of scenery, with only a few fruit trees bearing sour fruit.
The sounds of drinking games and toasts could be heard coming from one of the rooms.
The door was kicked open, and the eunuchs inside, their mood disturbed, were about to burst into a tirade. But upon seeing who it was, their legs went weak.
"Lord Rong."
The eunuchs tried to block the food and wine on the table, but the next moment, Xie Wenjun appeared outside the door. They didn't even have the strength to block him anymore, and they slammed their knees on the ground and began to kowtow.
Seeing the eunuch's guilty conscience, Xie Wenjun's heart sank.
"Where is Roujia?"
The eunuchs stammered and couldn't answer, then deflected, saying, "It should be in the back hall, where a few old women are serving the princess."
Xie Wenjun said, "Keep an eye on these people."
He walked quickly toward the rear hall.
The pond in the rear hall had dried up, leaving only a cracked bottom and withered lotus leaves drooping around it. Not a soul was in sight. Inside the hall, there were indeed several elderly palace women, taking their afternoon nap and fast asleep. A table was laid out with many fresh seasonal fruits, most of which they had only eaten the sweetest tips of before leaving the rest aside.
Roujia is not here.
The Changning Guards entered the palace to arrest people, and the sound of clashing weapons woke the old woman from her afternoon nap.
The old women turned pale with fright.
He gathered his clothes, got down, kowtowed, and begged the princess for mercy.
Xie Wenjun ignored the old woman's pleas for mercy and said, "Go find her."
Changning Guards split into several teams and searched in all directions.
Xie Wenjun was sweating profusely under the scorching sun, and his skin was red and swollen from the sun. Only then did he notice a well pavilion behind the palace. There was a well under the pavilion, and there seemed to be a small figure next to the well.
Rotten fruit from the tree fell into the well pavilion. Roujia saw the fruit and, perhaps because she was extremely hungry, slowly picked it up and ate it in a few bites. She knelt beside the wooden bucket at the well, buried her face in the bucket, and took a sip of the remaining half-bucket of cold water.
Water stains were on her chin, but she didn't bother to wipe them off.
Xie Wenjun called softly, "Roujia."
Roujia turned around and realized that many people had arrived. She stood up, her clothes dirty in the front and cuffs. Children her age usually have round, full bellies after eating even a little, but Roujia's abdomen was sunken and shriveled, indicating she had been hungry for a long time.
Roujia stared blankly at the people in front of her. Among the group of people wearing iron armor, she spotted Xie Wenjun. She was clearly very happy and wanted to give the sour fruit she had been holding for a while to Xie Wenjun.
Xie Wenjun swatted the dirty fruit out of her hand and picked her up.
The child was only a little over ten years old, and Xie Wenjun couldn't carry him for more than a few steps. Rong Jun tossed his sword to his deputy, "Your Highness, please give the little prince to me."
Taking Roujia from Rongjun, Rongjun asked, "Your Highness, where is the young princess going?" Anyone would feel bad sending her back to the old woman.
"Return to the residence."
Return to the Princess's residence.
Yuan Rong said, "Your Highness, it was the Emperor's decree to send Princess Roujia here. If Your Highness wants to take Princess Roujia away, should you ask the Emperor for permission?"
Xie Wenjun said, "By the time I request permission, his daughter will have been abused to death by these lowly servants."
Originally, I just came to the Imperial Garden to take a look at what I needed to buy so that Roujia wouldn't live too poorly after leaving the palace, but I never expected to see such a scene.
Changning Guard had already taken the eunuchs and old women to the dried-up lotus pond, where they knelt and awaited their fate.
Xie Wenjun glanced at it and said, "Kill him with a cane."
Author's note: Thank you for reading this far!
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