Chapter 86: Discovered, but if given another chance, for the princess, I, your subject…
Fortunately, nothing went wrong.
Yu Nie held the letter Huan Xun had written in her hand. After reading the words, she could finally let out the breath she had been holding for a day and a night.
The dark twilight enveloped the upturned eaves and roof.
The matter of canceling the marriage alliance is finally over.
Mengxun and his Jie tribesmen will set off immediately to leave Jian'an and return to their Daque after the star-gazing banquet ends the day after tomorrow.
She looked out the window, and the anxiety that had been hanging over her for days finally subsided.
Seeing the worry disappear from her mistress's brow, Cuiwei, standing to the side, smiled genuinely, clearly happy for her from the bottom of her heart.
Seeing that Yu Nie had folded the letter neatly and put it away, Cuiwei couldn't help but say, "Lord Huan is truly reliable in his work. I was worried that there might be some unexpected changes, but now it seems that I was just being overly cautious. Lord Huan didn't make the slightest mistake."
As she spoke, Cuiwei seemed to understand: "No wonder His Majesty favors him and wants to marry a princess from the royal family to him, making him a prince consort. It's rare to find someone as prudent and steady as Lord Huan, especially since he's not even of age to come of age yet."
Yu Nie had no objection to his competence.
She recalled what Xiao Chengyan had said. According to him, the emperor had formally bestowed a marriage upon Huan Xun, and the day Huan Xun refused the marriage was the same day she and Xiao Chengyan went to Yongxing Temple.
Not everyone dares to refuse the emperor; such a risky act could cost them their lives.
These past few days, however, he has acted as if nothing is wrong, dealing with the marriage alliance with her. Under such immense pressure, he has not faltered at all; no wonder history books say that he was able to ascend to the center of power in his twenties.
Yu Nie thought to herself, "I really need to learn from her such a mindset."
Before she could speak, Cuiwei continued, "But Your Highness's contribution to the success of this matter is immense."
"If it weren't for the prickly pear juice you made and the improved seeds, the Jie people would never have agreed to cancel the marriage alliance so easily."
Yu Nie rested his cheeks on his hands and turned to look at her: "Am I really that amazing?"
"Of course." Cuiwei said in an unquestionable manner: "This servant is not well-read, but I can tell that Your Highness is different from ordinary people. There are some things that this servant has never even seen before. I did not know that the juice of the prickly pear would change color when it gets on paper soaked with rice water."
Hearing this sincere praise, Yu Nie turned to look at the little maid in front of her and said sincerely, "I just had some good fortune and read a few more books. If you, Cuiwei, had such an opportunity, perhaps it would be my turn to admire you."
“How could that be?” Cuiwei waved her hands repeatedly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I’m so stupid. Back in school, my teacher said I was hopeless. I always pronounced the ‘jiang’ in ‘dianjiangchun’ (a type of rouge-painted lips) as the ‘jiang’ in ‘toujiang’ (to surrender), which made the teacher shake his head.”
"Have you ever been to school?" Yu Nie remembered her saying that her family was poor. Schools were mostly for children from wealthy families; children from ordinary families generally couldn't afford them.
Cuiwei shook her head: "My family is too poor to afford the tuition for school. But my mother cooks and cleans at the school, and I help her earn some money for the family. My mother wants me to be literate, so she begged the teacher for a long time, saying she was willing to take less pay, just so I could sit in on the class, even if it was just one lesson a day."
When talking about these past experiences, Cuiwei showed no trace of bitterness on her face. Her eyes even lit up when she mentioned auditing classes.
She said, "Perhaps my husband was driven to desperation by my mother, and because I was not very bright, he gave me a copy of the Three Character Classic and told me to study it myself first. I can recognize characters now, all thanks to this book."
Yu Nie looked at her quietly, a sudden pang of tenderness welling up in his heart.
Looking at the light in Cuiwei's eyes, a light born of literacy, she thought of the countless other eyes in the world that had never even seen such a light. How many others like Cuiwei were unable to attend school normally?
"Princess...Princess..." Seeing that she didn't speak for a long time, Cuiwei called her twice.
Yu Nie came to her senses.
She explained her momentary lapse in concentration, saying, "Speaking of the Three Character Classic, my junior sister at the Taoist temple taught me to learn it, as did my junior brother. They both read a lot of books and wrote beautiful characters."
Beiye has always valued literature, and good handwriting is seen not only as a display of talent but also as proof of upright character. Every year, various prefectures and counties hold calligraphy competitions, and the winner is not only a personal honor but also has this momentous event solemnly recorded in the family genealogy.
For the first time, she spoke to Cuiwei in detail about Langxi and Ahui: "My junior brother and sister are handsome and beautiful. One is like Hua Tuo reborn, dreaming of practicing medicine to save the world and help the poor and needy. The other has mastered excellent swordsmanship, is knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, and wishes to be a chivalrous knight-errant and help the weak and oppressed."
When she mentioned Langxi and the others, her eyes and brows lit up with a cheerful expression: "I happen to have some skills myself. If the world can remain peaceful, the three of us can form a small group, travel through mountains and rivers, and explore strange and wondrous places. We can do good deeds for people along the way and earn a little money. How wonderful that would be!"
Cuiwei seemed somewhat puzzled by her words: "Could the world really be in turmoil?"
Yu Nie paused for a few seconds, then his eyes flickered: "I was just saying, how could the world be in turmoil?"
Before she could finish speaking, she asked Cuiwei, "If... I mean if... if the world descends into chaos, Cuiwei, you should take your family and hide in the deep mountains to the far west. Even if life is hard, at least you can save your lives."
Linjun Mountain, located in the far west, is strategically important. It is closest to Jian'an, but very far from Huaiyuan. If war breaks out, the rebel army will cut off the route from Huaiyuan to this place.
The only way to get there is to leave early. But regardless of whether the people in the temple will believe her, that's another matter.
Based on her martial uncle Cui Miaochang's belief that "one who has received the favor of incense offerings must protect the people of the region," she would never consider leaving.
For the past hundred years, Lingbao Temple has opened its doors to refugees during times of natural disasters and wars. Cui Miaochang, as the abbot, believes this is the temple's duty.
During the famine years ago, if the old abbot hadn't opened the granaries to distribute food, countless more people would have starved to death. According to the traditions of the Taoist temple, even in the face of great calamity, her senior uncle would not leave.
Therefore, she will stay behind to protect the people in the temple.
In her view, she and Langxi were one.
As night deepened outside the palace, the flickering candlelight cast a red glow on the window screen, creating a hazy effect.
Song Ai entered quietly from the outer room, her eyebrows lowered, her voice respectful: "Your Highness, it is past 7 PM, time to wash and get ready."
Yu Nie paused slightly, quickly tucking the letter into his sleeve. When he looked up, his face was already composed: "Hmm, please trouble Ju Ling to have someone prepare water."
Song Ai lowered her head and replied, "Yes."
*
Dongguan Pavilion.
This was the emperor's exclusive place for handling state affairs, where he reviewed memorials, discussed politics with his ministers, and read extensively.
Midnight had passed, and the Forbidden City was utterly silent. The candles in the palaces had long since been extinguished, but the East Pavilion remained brightly lit, casting the silhouettes of its eaves and brackets into the deep night, exuding an aura of unassailable majesty.
Inside the pavilion, the ambergris incense burner was slowly releasing wisps of smoke, which drifted up to the beams and pillars before dissipating into the shadows in the corners, making the air even more solemn.
Behind the throne, the man leaned back, holding a copy of the Spring and Autumn Annals and reading it.
He possessed a dignified bearing, a beautiful beard, and a dragon-like face, exuding an innate majesty. His bee-like eyes seemed to hold a scholarly air, but only upon close observation could one perceive the suspicion and scrutiny hidden beneath his refined exterior.
"Your Majesty, it's late. Why don't you rest?" Feng Changshi glanced at the kneeling figure and whispered, not daring to look directly at the Emperor's face.
Zhao Yunfu's gaze fell on the steps below, where the man was still kneeling properly, his back straight in his crimson court robe, and his lowered eyelashes showing no sign of trembling.
Finally, Zhao Yunfu spoke slowly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Has Huan Qing thought it through? Where exactly did you go wrong?"
Huan Xun's gaze fell on the cold gold bricks, and the words that rolled out from his throat were clear and distinct: "I am guilty. My guilt lies in disregarding Your Majesty's long-term plans for my own selfish reasons, and in concealing the truth and disobeying Your Majesty's decree to grant me this marriage."
He paused slightly, then lowered his head, his tone revealing a touch of resolute stubbornness: "But if I could do it all over again, for the princess, I... would have no regrets."
Just half an hour ago, he was handling government affairs in his residence when he was interrupted by the summons from the palace eunuch. As he stepped into the East Pavilion, he was greeted not by the emperor's face, but by a memorial marked with red ink.
The memorial was filled with sharp words, directly accusing the Jie tribe of breaking off the marriage agreement because of his secret interference, and further accusing him of abusing his power for personal gain and destroying the foundation of goodwill between the two countries.
The person above simply said, "You should reflect on your own actions," and then remained silent until this moment.
Huan Xun lowered his eyes, so the people above couldn't see his expression.
He was not surprised that someone would hand him such a divination report at this time; in fact, he had expected it.
This turmoil wasn't exactly fraught with danger; since it was expected, why should he fear others taking advantage of his misfortune?
"Oh?" A cryptic sound came from the throne, sending chills down one's spine.
Zhao Yunfu's gaze deepened, settling on him as if trying to pierce through his submissive facade to see whether he was truly loyal or treacherous.
"As a close advisor to me, Huan Qing has committed such a chilling act. Now that you have confessed your guilt, do you know how you should be punished?"
Huan Xun bowed his head to the ground, showing no sign of panic.
Even before he arrived, he had already planned his "escape route".
He took a deep breath, slamming his forehead heavily against the cold ground with a dull thud, his voice carrying an undeniable resolve:
"Your Majesty, I wish to resign from my positions as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince and concurrently as Vice Minister of the Chancellery, in order to express my gratitude for Your Majesty's great favor and to atone for my transgressions."
He resigned with such certainty that it seemed he was truly willing to risk everything.
Zhao Yunfu tapped his fingers on the armrest slowly, as if he were considering his decision.
For this emperor, the marriage alliance with the Jie people was a trivial matter; the real purpose was to borrow their route to save troops.
Now that the goal has been achieved, whether or not a marriage alliance is formed is no longer of any importance.
A few days ago, when the Jie people sent a letter of state saying that they had no choice but to cancel the engagement, Zhao Yunfu had already learned of the result through secret channels.
The emperor, Zhao Yunfu, knew that all the strange omens and the white rainbow piercing the sun were political weapons. If they benefited him, they were true; if they did not, they were false.
He knew perfectly well that the strange celestial phenomena were just an excuse Mengxun used to annul the engagement, but since the Jie people had broken their promise first, he might as well go with the flow, since he had already gotten what he really wanted anyway.
To the emperor, places like Da Que were nothing more than barbarians. Unless the situation required it, even noble ladies from collateral branches of the royal family would not normally be betrothed to them.
However... he did not expect Huan Xun to get involved in this matter.
What surprised him even more was that this minister, whom he had been trying so hard to win over, was actually in love with a royal woman.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. In this way, he and his former teacher Yan Yue will have an additional layer of kinship ties.
Statements that can be presented are ultimately just appearances.
Huan Xun had previously served in Lingnan or the northern frontier. How could he have fallen so deeply in love with Hua Yan, who was far away in Shuoyang?
Are they even willing to take such a risk?
Zhao Yunfu remained silent for a long time.
The silence inside the Dongguan Pavilion was so profound that it sent a chill down one's spine. Feng Changshi, who was standing guard in front of the emperor, looked him up and down.
Even he, a favorite of the emperor, was unsure whether he should speak.
After a long while, the person on the throne finally spoke, his gaze returning to the book in his hands.
His words were filled with a subtle, unmistakable regret: "I know that Huan Qing is deeply devoted to his wife. However, it seems that the Empress Dowager has already decided to betroth Shunhe to Chengyan."
*
Langxi and Ahui waited outside the Wuwei Camp for a whole day.
As curfew approached and they had to leave, the sound of rapid hoofbeats drew nearering them.
Langxi turned around and saw a magnificent horse galloping towards them, with a majestic man sitting upright on it – it was Xu Cai.
In his early twenties, he was tall and had a face that resembled his elder brother, Xu Jingyang, by seven or eight points.
Xu Jingyang was always gentle and refined, with a gentle and graceful demeanor like a breeze and the shadows of bamboo, while Xu Cai was completely different. The latter had a heroic and valiant air between his brows, and even his tone of voice had a deep and resonant quality.
The moment Xu Cai saw Lang Xi, the gloom that had lingered in his eyes for days seemed to be instantly revitalized.
Before his horse had even come to a complete stop, he had already leaped off and, clad in armor, galloped towards Langxi.
Just like when he was a child, he opened his long arms and embraced the person in front of him, his voice filled with a long-suppressed joy.
He still called her by the old name he often used when he was a child: "Axi—"
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