Chapter 37. The Zen master sat outside the door, ensuring the princess had a good night's rest. ...
That year, He's military strategy, Yin and Yang, was leaked, and Li Yilian was ordered to supervise the investigation.
On the day the imperial edict was issued, after discussing it with his family, Li Yilian decided to visit the home of Sheng Xiuyuan, the Minister of War, and ask him to bring forward the arranged marriage of his children.
If something truly goes wrong, the Sheng family might be able to save the life of the Li family's second daughter.
The Sheng family was one step ahead of him; the messenger broke off the engagement.
The marriage between the Li and Sheng families had been called off once, but Sheng Yu'an insisted on it repeatedly, persuaded his grandmother, and visited the family many times to apologize. He managed to reconcile the two families and finally re-establish the marriage alliance.
This time, not a single elder from the Sheng family showed up; they only sent a letter of annulment to the housekeeper, which was extremely rude and arrogant.
Li Yilian was furious, but he still swallowed his pride and went to the Sheng family in person. Unexpectedly, he was turned away at the door. Despite his repeated pleas, he was only given the perfunctory reply, "The master and young master are not here today. Please come another day, Lord Li."
Sheng Xiuyuan is at home, but he's avoiding him. Everyone knows this is a life-or-death mission, and could potentially implicate nine generations of one's family.
By the time the matter fell on Li Yilian's shoulders, the situation was already out of control, and someone simply needed to cover for him.
To put it bluntly, someone had to sacrifice their life to uphold the dignity of the court. Otherwise, how could the emperor, the crown prince, and the central ministers possibly have any face left?
Li Yujing and her sisters were called together. After explaining the reason, their mother, Nie, hugged them and cried.
If the father is punished and the entire family is executed, there's nothing to fear; the whole family can stay together in the underworld.
However, if their homes were confiscated and their records confiscated, the male members could still survive by being dismissed from their posts or sent to the army, but the female members would be treated like objects. Whether they were exiled or made into government slaves or prostitutes, they would be reduced to playthings and tortured to death.
We can't just sit here and wait to die!
Li Yujing forced herself to calm down, her heart pounding, and wrote a farewell letter to her former friend, which also contained a plea for help.
When Gu Xie received Li Yujing's letter in Cangnan, she was single-handedly fighting a literary contest with a group of students from Hanhong Academy.
The topic is precisely about national policies and strategies.
The examination was conducted with Grand Tutor Gu Changxue and Gu Heng as the chief examiners, and Yao Jifeng set the questions. Students answered according to the standards of the provincial examination. The examination papers were sealed, and the students' names were covered with paper. Grand Tutor Gu, Gu Heng, and Yao Jifeng reviewed the papers separately, and finally selected the three best papers.
As expected, Gu Xie remained in first place.
One student disagreed and said, "Grand Tutor Gu, Mr. Gu and Mr. Qi are your grandfather, your elder brother, and your husband, respectively. Which one of them doesn't recognize your handwriting?"
A servant hurried over and handed the letter delivered by the courier to Gu Xie, saying, "Miss, it's a letter from Yongdu."
Gu Xie casually slipped the book into her hand. She disdained to argue, but couldn't stand such fabrication. "You lose an article and then you slander and fabricate stories like this? You should stop studying the classics and read more books of sages to purify your mind."
Then, he mentioned again his intention to convert Hanhongnan Academy into a girls' school, to recruit talented female students from all over the world.
Naturally, his proposal was rejected once again by Grand Tutor Gu.
She wasn't discouraged, as if she had already gotten the result she didn't want. After getting the result she didn't want, she dusted off the pages of the book and went back to her room.
She opened the envelope and understood the plea for help in the letter. She picked up her pen to reply, but halfway through, she felt it was inappropriate and crumpled the letter into a ball, throwing it on the ground.
Li Yujing was very anxious after sending the letter.
When disaster struck, even the Sheng family avoided the marriage proposal and broke off the engagement to save themselves from the calamity.
After Gu Xie returned to Cangnan, they often corresponded, but after so many years of not seeing each other, she was prepared to receive no reply if she sent a letter at this juncture.
Gu Xie did not reply.
She rode at breakneck speed from Cangnan to Yongdu, heading straight for the Li residence.
Upon seeing their old friend whom they hadn't seen for many years, the two exchanged pleasantries for a long time with great emotion. Gu Xie then got straight to the point, informing them that someone from the Eastern Palace had come to ask Yao Jifeng for the original manuscript of "On Women," without any intention of blaming her.
Few people knew that Yao Jifeng had changed her name to Qi Xiu and gone to Cangnan after being released from death row. Apart from the Gu family, only the Emperor and the Crown Prince knew. It was unlikely that the Emperor and the Crown Prince would suddenly become interested in "On Women's Discourses".
After carefully considering the details of the matter, the two quickly concluded that the person who sent someone to collect the manuscript was Princess Jiangning.
"Try to see the princess and ask for her protection!" Gu Xie said.
Coincidentally, Xie Wenjun had left the palace to observe mourning for his mother at Taihuang Temple. Since he was not in the palace, it was much easier for him to get an audience with her.
The following day, Li Yujing presented a thick stack of handwritten Buddhist scriptures with both hands and knelt down outside the meditation room where Xie Wenjun lived.
After introducing herself, she explained her purpose: "I beg the princess to protect my family!"
In the quiet meditation room, Xie Wenjun was copying scriptures to pray for her mother's well-being.
The bell of Taihuang Temple would ring three times on the hour, and Xie Wenjun would only look up from the scriptures after the bell stopped ringing.
"Lord Li has not yet been convicted, so he doesn't need my protection. Even if Lord Li were to be convicted, the decision on his conviction and punishment would be made by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, and I cannot interfere in court affairs."
Li Yujing said, "This humble woman is willing to serve the princess. Whatever the princess needs to do, this humble woman will certainly be of use to it."
Gu Xie saw things more deeply than she did, and succinctly stated: "The way to ask for help lies in mutual benefit. A princess, a daughter of the imperial family, is already accustomed to pleading for the families of disgraced officials. If you want her to help you, you must have a reason that makes her absolutely determined to save you! You have to be useful, preferably more useful than anyone else, and irreplaceable!"
"Do you know what I want to do?" Xie Wenjun asked.
"I do not know," Li Yujing said. "But I dare to guess that the princess intends to promote girls' education."
Xie Wenjun was silent for a moment, then said, "You should know that the Emperor has no right to withdraw sentences in cases decided by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. If you are convicted, I cannot save you. It is not that I do not want to save you or am unwilling to save you, but that I have no right to do so."
"This subject understands."
"If that's the case, why have you come to see me? How do you expect me to protect your family? What use are you to me?"
The flesh trade has existed since ancient times, but brothels are not.
No one has ever paid attention to the origins of such places, and naturally few people know that under the social norms of regulating women with "chastity" and "female education and conduct," brothels were able to exist legitimately because of the establishment of official prostitutes.
It is impossible to trace back to which dynasty or generation it occurred, but in order to raise money for military expenses, the rulers set up official prostitutes, and the revenue from the brothels went entirely into the national treasury to supplement the national expenditure.
"Women from respectable families are mostly taught that 'a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent,' and not many women are literate or literate, so there are many obstacles to establishing girls' schools. But women in brothels are different. They are not subject to the discipline of Confucian ethics. The reason why famous courtesans are sought after by literati is not only because of their beautiful appearance, but also because they have real knowledge and talent."
Li Yujing paused for a moment, afraid that mentioning such a filthy place as a brothel would offend the princess and backfire.
Xie Wenjun gestured for her to continue.
"Respectable women often look down on courtesans, yet they want to learn their methods to keep their husbands' hearts. They can promote women's education without much effort or publicity."
Li Yujing bowed deeply again: "This humble woman believes she possesses some talent and is willing to serve the princess."
Xie Wenjun said, "According to you, you want to become a famous courtesan?"
Li Yujing gritted her teeth and said, "Yes, Princess."
"You came to see me, didn't you want me to protect you from being relegated to a lowly status?"
"As Your Highness said, I understand. It is difficult for Your Highness to intervene in the court's punishment. Since this day is bound to come sooner or later, we should make plans as early as possible, for ourselves and for our families."
The young women in the families of disgraced officials often ended up as prostitutes, while the older women were sent to work as slaves doing menial tasks and hard labor.
"I beg Your Highness to protect my family from suffering, preserve the purity of my sisters, and perhaps, if a general amnesty is granted in the future, they will have the opportunity to live ordinary lives, supporting their husbands and raising their children."
“This is not difficult,” Xie Wenjun said.
Those who become official prostitutes are simply sent to either Yifeng Pavilion or the Imperial Music Bureau. Either way, a note can be written and two guards from the Eastern Palace can be dispatched. Neither the Music Bureau nor Yifeng Pavilion dares to defy the Eastern Palace. As for those who are exiled to slavery, they can be transferred to a quiet place that is not too grueling.
"Who is behind you? Bring her to see me."
Li Yujing was taken aback.
Xie Wenjun asked, "Are you from Cangnan? Hanhong Academy?"
Only those who knew she had sent someone to retrieve the manuscript could guess that she was planning to establish a large-scale girls' school.
Li Yujing was in a very difficult situation.
Gu Xie did come with her, but she waited outside the temple. Since she didn't come up with her, she probably didn't want to show her face in front of the princess.
Xie Wenjun had already sent someone to invite him, and Gu Xie was listening to their conversation outside the door. Upon hearing that the princess had summoned him, Yuan Rong led him into the meditation room.
After performing the grand salute, she immediately declared, "This humble woman, Cangnan Guxie, is willing to serve the princess!"
After the eighteen-month mourning period for Empress Huixian ended, Xie Wenjun, under the pretext of praying for Empress Huixian's well-being, persuaded Emperor Xuanyuan to grant a pardon, dismissing some of the female slaves and lowly prostitutes and returning them to their good status.
Among them were Li Yujing's mother and sisters.
***
Empress Huixian's memorial tablet is enshrined in the Yongning Hall of Taihuang Temple.
A few days ago, upon hearing that Princess Jiangning would be visiting, the temple cleared the area around Yongning Hall. Pilgrims climbed to higher ground, hoping to catch a glimpse of the princess's beautiful face.
The imposing and majestic Eastern Palace Guards are scattered throughout Yongning Palace, wielding nine-stone horn bows and straight-bladed long knives, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.
Xie Wenjun strolled up the bluestone steps, followed by several palace maids and eunuchs.
The pilgrims murmured and squeezed forward to look into the distance, but could not see the face clearly. What came into view was a person wearing a plain white dress wrapped in a black fox fur cloak, without a crown.
Walk slowly and steadily, climbing higher and higher.
Chen Liangyu was also standing nearby.
As dawn broke, she had only closed her eyes for a short while when she woke up with a splitting headache and a parched throat. She drank a lot of herbal tea to feel some relief.
He should have rushed back to the Southern Office immediately to await the imperial decree. The imperial edict to send troops to the Southern Continent would be issued at the earliest today or at the latest tomorrow. Then he would have to negotiate with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue regarding the allocation of troops and provisions.
Yuan Rong called someone in to serve her. After rinsing her mouth and washing her face, she went to the next room, where Xie Wenjun had already washed and dressed.
“Princess, I have official business to attend to…” she said.
"Um."
Xie Wenjun kept her head down and didn't look at her.
She took two steps forward, getting closer to Xie Wenjun. As if intentionally avoiding eye contact, Xie Wenjun turned her face slightly away.
Just one word, nothing more.
Seeing her like this, Chen Liangyu felt a pang in her heart, an emotion she couldn't quite describe.
Pity? Heartache?
She had intended to say that she had official business to attend to today and would not accompany the princess.
What he actually said was: "I am going back to Yongdu. If the princess wants to go to Taihuang Temple to pay respects to Empress Huixian, I can accompany her."
Returning to Nanya from this town and going to Taihuang Temple are not on the same route, as they are not in the same direction. However, after mentally calculating the approximate distance, and using Hongzong's speed to detour, it wouldn't take too long to get back to Nanya from Taihuang Temple.
On the anniversary of Empress Huixian's death, she should offer incense.
Xie Wenjun then turned to look at her, her gaze filled with uncertainty, surprised that Chen Liangyu wanted to accompany her.
Whether it was a misperception or not, Chen Liangyu caught a fleeting glimpse of fear.
“I was drunk yesterday,” Xie Wenjun said.
Chen Liangyu said, "Was I impolite yesterday?"
"No." Xie Wenjun asked in surprise, "You don't remember what happened yesterday?"
Yuanrong and Daiqing wished they could instantly transform into ostriches and bury their heads in the sand. Their faces flushed red as they tried their best to close their eyes and block out their ears.
"Remember."
"Remember what?" Xie Wenjun turned her gaze away, a moment of panic in her eyes.
"I remember the princess saying that you could be one of the useful people."
"Do you... remember anything else?"
"Anything else? What else?" Chen Liangyu said, "I was drunk yesterday and made a mistake. If I overlooked anything, please remind me, Princess."
"It's nothing, let's go!"
Chen Liangyu and Xie Wenjun added incense to the memorial tablet of Empress Huixian, and the monks in the temple performed rituals and chanted sutras.
Behind Yongning Hall was the meditation room where Xie Wenjun met Li Yujing and Gu Xie. The monks in the temple had swept it clean, and it was spotless.
Xie Wenjun will stay at Taihuang Temple for three to five days.
Chen Liangyu looked around. The meditation room was old and simple, almost as simple as the inn where they had stayed. There was a bamboo couch, a set of pine wood table and chairs, a Buddhist shrine, and two prayer cushions under the shrine.
She couldn't help but ask, "Are the food and clothing adequate? Will you find it difficult to get used to the accommodations?"
Xie Wenjun knelt on the prayer mat, clasped her hands together, silently murmured something, and then said, "Where the heart finds peace, all is well."
How could I not get used to living here? It's far from the hustle and bustle, and I can stay with my mother all the time, chanting sutras and praying for her, wishing her a peaceful and healthy next life.
"But the nights here are too quiet, there is no human presence, the silence is unsettling. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and can't tell if I'm in the human world or the underworld."
"Did Yuanrong and Daiqing not serve you properly?"
As soon as Chen Liangyu finished speaking, Yuanrong and Daiqing knelt down, saying in fear, "It is this servant who deserves to die."
That's not what I meant either.
Chen Liangyu felt a little embarrassed and turned to look at Xie Wenjun.
"Get up!" Xie Wenjun said, "They do things with their hearts, but it's not as reassuring as having you by your bedside."
On that rainy night at the Guanju Tower in the Xuanping Marquis's residence, she slept peacefully.
Chen Liangyu gazed at the lonely figure on the prayer mat. Despite being surrounded by thousands of people, he felt inexplicably lonely and desolate.
“At this time of year, if I am not on official business, I will come with the princess to bother Empress Huixian for a few days.”
She had made a promise to Empress Huixian years ago, and now she realized that fulfilling it was no easy task. However, whenever she saw Princess Jiangning all alone, she felt a pang of pity.
"I will sit outside the door and keep the princess well for the night."
Author's note: Thank you for reading this far!
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