Chapter 161 Birth Mother: She was the first female general of Dongxi. ...
When Yue Yining returned to the princess's residence, she heard that Wei Yihua had gone to the palace early that morning.
After the border reform case concluded, Her Highness the Eldest Princess was extremely busy. Yue Yining was nominally the initiator, but she later went to prison and disappeared. In fact, the entire case was led by Wei Yihua, and no one knew better than her. Subsequent evidence submissions and assistance in the investigation all required Wei Yihua's personal arrangement of people.
Besides investigating and convicting criminals and cracking down on corruption, there is another matter that urgently needs to be decided—how to deal with the Di Rong who are stirring up trouble on the border.
This is the biggest problem left over after the border army reform was completed.
What's worse, no news has come back from the border for a long time, which is not a good sign.
A tense storm was brewing in Yanjing, unknown to ordinary people, while the powerful and wealthy indulged in a life of decadence.
Inside the palace, Yue Yining dismissed the servants and sat alone before a large table. On the table, the edge of a bronze plate gleamed with an oily sheen. She lowered her eyes to look at the seal script on the plate, her fingers running over the worn marks left by the inscriptions.
Before me were densely packed divination sticks, incense ash, matches, yarrow stalks, bamboo strips, and a tortoise shell.
It was clearly a clear, bright day, yet lightning flashed amidst the churning clouds, and several rumbling claps of thunder descended upon the earth.
Yue Yining looked up at the sound. She gazed at the early spring scenery outside the window. She was getting used to this palace, which she hadn't been familiar with at first. Just like this tortoise shell divination she was about to perform for the third time, she was almost proficient at it and could perform the complicated divination steps smoothly even with her eyes closed.
Beneath her feet lay the land of Dongxi, and on the table lay her life.
Yue Yining sat quietly for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before reaching out and picking up the tortoise shell.
The sea of clouds passed over the palace walls, gathering and swirling faintly above the imperial city.
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, in the Imperial Study, incense smoke curls around the beams from the incense burner.
Several high-ranking officials who had been summoned sat on either side of the hall. This was not a court assembly, but a small-scale audience, yet the atmosphere was even more somber and heavy than during the morning court session.
Aside from the emperor, there were only five people present: the newly appointed Privy Councilor and the only senior minister of the Council of State, Rong Xuan; the former Vice Minister of War who had been brought back to temporarily assume his duties; and the former Minister of Revenue, who looked worried.
And Gu Baifeng, the Grand General who was in plain clothes and whose hair and beard were all white.
Gu Baifeng had relinquished his military power many years ago and lived a secluded life, rarely getting involved in specific military and political affairs. But now, with signs of danger emerging on the border, he has been invited back to the court.
The veteran general, who had been out of the public eye for many years, sat in the first seat closest to the emperor, yet it seemed so natural that no one dared to object, nor would anyone object.
Even though he was already old and gray, Gu Baifeng's existence was like a solemn mountain.
His eyes were half-closed, as if he were resting, but his withered fingers unconsciously caressed an old, blood-stained jade pendant at his waist.
The memorial submitted by Yue Yining, Zhou Congyi, and others was circulated among the eunuch Luo Hong and others. It contained no up-to-date intelligence, only guesses pieced together from scattered clues.
It was repeatedly mentioned that several dozen days ago, various Di Rong tribes had been making frequent unusual movements, with small elite units constantly probing and attacking the defense line. Several key military towns had not received any news of safety for more than ten days as usual, and the reason was unknown.
Each and every one of these incidents subtly hints at unrest on the border.
The imperial court could no longer sit idly by and watch the situation develop; it had to take action.
"Now it seems that the Di Rong are aware of the turmoil in our court, and given their continuous harassment, their intentions are unfathomable," the emperor said in a hoarse voice.
Since falling ill two years ago due to the sudden death of the Crown Prince, Wei Tianxuan's health has been deteriorating, and he always looks exhausted and powerless: "...What do you think, my dear ministers?"
The Privy Councilor spoke first, his tone somber: "Your Majesty, the situation is not optimistic. The Di and Rong are cunning and ruthless, and they are used to taking advantage of chaos. Last winter they were able to break through Black Tiger Gorge, and this early spring they are fat and strong. They have also learned the true situation of our border, and they will never be content with their lot."
The old official, who was temporarily acting as the Vice Minister of War, stroked his beard and added, "Such frequent unusual movements are by no means ordinary border disturbances. This is a common tactic used before a major battle to wear down the enemy, in order to probe their strength and weaknesses."
"The loss of contact with the various military garrisons most likely indicates that they have been divided and besieged, or..."
The second half of the sentence was swallowed, left unsaid, but everyone understood—or perhaps, he had met with misfortune.
The best outcome is that the border war has not yet broken out.
The worst-case scenario is that, at the very moment they were discussing this, several border cities had already been captured by the enemy, who then seized the territory and established their own kingdoms.
While the others chattered amongst themselves, Rong Xuan listened quietly. Finally, after glancing at the emperor's expression, he said, "I second that proposal. The border is in dire need of pacification. We urgently need to reinforce our troops, regroup, and prepare to lead the army into battle. This matter should not be delayed any longer."
The Minister of Revenue's voice was filled with worry: "Your Majesty, the northern regions suffered a severe drought the year before last, and the Qinghuai River flooded last summer. The national treasury has already been depleted of most of its reserves for disaster relief, and the remaining grain is hardly enough to support the army's long-term campaign."
"Furthermore, the Ministry of War has just been embroiled in this major case, resulting in a huge shortage of military equipment. There are very few armors and weapons in the granaries that can be immediately allocated..."
"That being said, the border garrison is not small. Even if the national treasury is in deficit, it can support the war for a period of time. However, if the war is deadlocked, it will not be able to continue for long."
With each analysis presented, the temperature in the study dropped a degree. The sky outside had darkened at some point, and the grayish-white light shone through the windowpanes, falling on the faces of the people, some gloomy, some solemn.
The Di Rong tribes were probing for an attack, border communications were cut off, the court was internally vulnerable, and there was a shortage of food and military supplies... It was time to fight a war, but upon careful consideration, it was clear that resources were stretched thin everywhere.
Wei Tianxuan leaned back on the dragon throne, his wrinkled eyelids never lifting: "Then let's fight."
The ministers' spirits lifted. The emperor, who was almost emaciated, spoke calmly, but a chilling aura instantly ran up their spines.
Even though Wei Tianxuan's health is not what it used to be, he was once a wise ruler who rode a warhorse, repelled the Di and Rong tribes, and ushered in a decade of prosperity.
He has simply grown old, not died. His former grand imperial power has diminished, but his sharp edge remains undiminished.
"If there are no weapons, have the Ministry of Works immediately open the furnaces and requisition blacksmiths from the people to work day and night; if the national treasury is empty, have the Ministry of Revenue calculate how much grain can be squeezed out from the granaries of each prefecture and state, so that my private treasury can also provide some support."
At this point, he coughed a few times abruptly, took a breath, and lowered his gaze to look at the blurry figures reflected on the gold brick floor. "...If there are not enough soldiers, we will transfer them from the capital's military camp and draw them from garrisons in various places."
His voice remained flat and even, without any impassioned tone or angry reprimand; he was simply stating something that had to be done and how to do it.
"I know the difficulties," Wei Tianxuan said. "If there are difficulties, does that mean we shouldn't fight?"
It's just that money is tighter, manpower is scarcer, the fighting is tougher, and more blood is shed.
These are all necessary costs to pay.
"Yes." Seeing everyone silent, Rong Xuan spoke first. He naturally picked up where the emperor left off and continued, "In my opinion, this battle should not be prolonged. It is best to launch a strong and swift attack to frighten and drive back the Di Rong. This way, the consumption of troops and provisions will not be too great, and the national treasury should be able to afford it."
"Minister Rong is right, but in recent years there has been a shortage of military talent. There are very few generals in the court who can win battles. Who is capable of shouldering such an important responsibility?"
“The Di Rong haven’t invaded the border for decades, and many young generals lack experience fighting their cavalry. This battle is extremely crucial.” The Vice Minister shook his head. As a senior official in the Ministry of War, he clearly understood the crux of the matter, his brow furrowed the most deeply. “If anything goes wrong, it will weaken the nation and have endless consequences…”
Ultimately, the issue boils down to a tug-of-war over the selection of generals and the deficit in the national treasury.
The war is inevitable, but how to fight it is the question.
If the battle lines are stretched out and a war is waged with ample troops and provisions, Dongxi, which has just undergone border troop reforms, will need to conscript soldiers again. The national treasury will be insufficient to support a protracted campaign, and the spring tax will have to be levied ahead of schedule. Given the recent spate of disasters and the hardship faced by the people, this move could easily incite public resentment.
If a strong offensive and swift attack is chosen, the generals are extremely crucial. However, the court has been complacent for too long, and the generation of generals has long been cut off. There are no young, brave, and experienced generals. If the generals leading the army are not capable enough and cannot launch a strong offensive on the battlefield, then the war must be planned in a long-term manner. At that time, it will be more difficult and have a more serious negative impact than to plan ahead and collect supplies slowly.
Amid the murmurs, the General Who Guards the Nation, who had been silent all along, slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes were not cloudy like those of a man nearing sixty; instead, they were sharp and calm, like tempered iron. He slowly stood up, and with that one step, the ministers who were speaking immediately fell silent.
Gu Baifeng stepped forward to the center of the hall, stood still, his purple robe fluttered slightly, and his aura suddenly became imposing.
“Your Majesty,” he began, his words as firm as metal striking the ground, “I am willing to go.”
“The situation is clear. The Di and Rong wolves will never let go of such a good opportunity.” Gu Baifeng’s voice was hoarse. “The generals in the court are either guarding the four directions and cannot be moved lightly, or they are too young and incompetent to take on important responsibilities.”
“In that case,” he raised his hand and bowed deeply, “this old minister, Gu Baifeng, requests permission to lead the army.”
"I am willing to immediately head to the northern border to oversee border military affairs, deter the barbarians, and stabilize the territory!"
Inside the hall, you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone looked at the old general. His temples were already gray, and his face was etched with the marks of time, but the fire in his eyes had not been extinguished, and his shoulders were still strong and capable of bearing heavy armor.
The emperor remained silent, but the Minister of Revenue spoke first: "But General Gu, you..."
Gu Lie, however, seemed to know his concerns. His deep voice interrupted his unspoken advice: "I am old. However, my body is still strong. I can still draw a three-stone bow and wield a horse-slaying sword. There are no generals available in the court. Let alone being old and weak, even if I were bedridden, I would still climb onto my warhorse!"
"Moreover, those Di Rong people recognize my Gu family's banner and this old man of mine!" Gu Baifeng lowered his brows and his voice resounded throughout the palace. "Even if the national treasury is empty and the army is short of supplies, this old minister will still hold off the Di Rong cavalry at the border with his last breath and his frail body!"
His words were firm and resounding, carrying an unquestionable determination and pride.
Outside the palace, spring branches swayed in the warming breeze. Birds flapped their wings and flew over the palace walls, settling once more on another spring branch deep within the palace. At this moment, it tilted its head, gazing at the unfamiliar palace before it, and inside, a woman with radiant beauty.
Inside the palace, Princess Wei Yihua was sitting and talking with her mother, Consort Li.
The white jade chess piece was held between the concubine's fingers. With a slight mishap, the piece slipped from her grasp with a soft "clang," landing on the chessboard and disrupting the game.
Consort Li paused, then picked up a chess piece again with her fingertips.
This time it was finally placed securely in the correct position.
Although she adjusted quickly, Wei Yihua could already tell that Consort Li was distracted. Her mother was playing chess with her, but was actually thinking about other things.
"Mother, what were you thinking about just now?"
Consort Li smiled gently, "It's nothing. It's just that I rarely play chess with others anymore, and this chess set made of warm jade has been stored in the pavilion for a long time. It still feels quite cool to the touch."
Wei Yihua did not expose Consort Li's lie, but she stopped playing chess.
"Mother, do you still remember the promise you made to Hua'er?" Wei Yihua looked directly at her and said softly, "Mother, you once said that you would tell me everything on Hua'er's eighteenth birthday."
Reborn, Wei Yihua learns about her true identity: she is not the biological daughter of the Imperial Concubine; her birth mother is the deceased Empress. In her previous life, she was kept in the dark her entire life, only learning the truth on her deathbed.
Even after being reborn, she still couldn't understand why everything about the Empress was an unspeakable taboo, why everyone had to hide her true birth mother from her, while her half-brother, the Crown Prince, knew.
On the day she confessed to Consort Li, Consort Li promised her that whatever she wanted to know, she would tell Wei Yihua on her eighteenth birthday.
At this moment, there are less than half a month left until Wei Yihua's eighteenth birthday.
But Wei Yihua was getting impatient.
Faced with Wei Yihua's words, Consort Li remained silent for a moment, her well-maintained face displaying extremely complex emotions.
She slowly waved away the palace maids, leaving only the mother and daughter in the hall.
She stopped looking at the chaotic game of chess, turned her gaze to the somber palace outside the window, and after a long while, sighed.
Consort Li was a beautiful woman with a delicate and fragrant breath, but this sigh was heavy, heavier than a thousand pounds, and it was not just the sorrow of a concubine in the deep palace.
“Yes,” Consort Li’s voice was unusually low, “Now that things have come to this, it’s time.”
Wei Yihua's heart skipped a beat as she looked into her mother's eyes, which had suddenly become deep and sorrowful.
"Let me think about when to begin..." Consort Li smiled. "Ah, I've got it. Let's start from when the Empress was young, that'll be just right."
At that time, the Empress was not yet the Empress, but only her older sister, Gu Danzhu, the eldest daughter of the Gu family of the General's Mansion.
The scene where Gu Danzhu skipped over a pile of cosmetics and gold and silver during her first birthday celebration and directly grasped the sword at Gu Baifeng's waist was a microcosm of her life.
She was strong-willed and combative by nature, never yielding to others and always striving to surpass the men her age. At an age when she should have been learning embroidery and hairpin making, Gu Danzhu instead practiced martial arts, learning from her father, a great general who was in charge of the country, all to defeat the spoiled young men in the Imperial Academy who mocked her as "soft and fragrant."
She was a natural-born military talent. While most people thought learning martial arts was a hardship, she enjoyed it. Although she didn't like reading, she loved memorizing military strategies and countless maps.
As a child, Gu Danzhu spent half her time on horseback, her fingers developing thick calluses from the hilts of swords and arrows. Only after she could wield a sword with ease did she begin to accompany Gu Baifeng on expeditions to the northern border.
At the age of fourteen, she fought on the battlefield, achieved great feats, and made unparalleled contributions.
Peach blossoms on horseback, ready to be wielded; fresh blood, instead of rouge, stains the temples red.
Even in the previous dynasty, when women were not allowed to hold official positions or show their faces in public, Gu Danzhu was an anomaly, but she didn't care.
She lived as she wished, with her sharp edges and unbridled joy.
Her sister is that kind of person.
She was Gu Danzhu, her elder sister, and the first female general during the Changtai era.
Consort Li once thought that her flamboyant and unrestrained sister would live like that forever and would never fall in love with any man. She couldn't imagine her sister being trapped in the deep courtyard, busy with the accounts and raising children.
However, Gu Danzhu fell in love with Wei Tianxuan.
She truly is an unparalleled extraordinary woman. The competitive Gu Danzhu, even if she loves, will love the best man in the world.
No, no. At that time, Wei Tianxuan was not yet the emperor, and he wasn't even the crown prince. At that time, Wei Tianxuan was only the fifth prince, neither the eldest son nor the legitimate son. His mother was of humble origin and he was unremarkable among the many princes of Dongxi.
But Gu Danzhu fell in love with him without hesitation, as if it were destiny.
A love story praised by later generations and passed down through the ages, yet gradually losing its true name, unfolds at a spring banquet in the Magpie Bridge Wonderland, where a rising young heroine meets the still unknown Fifth Prince, with peach blossoms filling the sky above.
Consort Li sometimes wondered if the dazzling peach blossoms of that day had remained forever in her sister's heart, and whether that was the reason she later named her daughter Yihua.
Yihua, Yihua. This name always reminds her of the poem: "The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful; the maiden is going to her husband's home, she will bring harmony to her family."
But she knew that the name came from another poem, a clumsy phrase that her illiterate sister had racked her brains to come up with at a spring banquet that year.
A precious artifact, naturally suited to its form, reflects the spirit of the Luo River like jade from Kunshan. Its splendor need not borrow the power of the Eastern Lord; its radiant light will forever illuminate the Purple Palace.
Consort Li remembered that day so clearly because she could not forget it. It was the first time her sister, who bled but never shed tears, held her hand, looked at her with bright eyes and rosy cheeks, and told her that she had fallen in love with a man.
"Second sister, what do you think of him?" Gu Danzhu smiled, her smile bright and radiant, far surpassing the morning sun. "Did you also see the person I met in the peach blossom grove just now?"
At that time, Consort Li was not yet Consort Li, and she never imagined that one day she would become Consort Li.
She recalled the man who had tucked a peach blossom into her sister's hair. He was indeed handsome and had an extraordinary air about him, a perfect match for her peerless sister.
But.
"Elder sister, I heard that he is the current emperor's son, and he is the fifth in his family."
"So he's the Fifth Prince." Gu Danzhu's smile remained unchanged. "That's alright, I've made up my mind, I want him."
Legends are never just legends.
The incense burner was filled with the smoke of the previous dynasty. Consort Li spoke slowly, and those past events and memories turned into words, into streams, and slowly smoothed out the valley in Wei Yihua's heart.
The young princess looked stunned.
She opened her mouth: "...My mother was once a female general?"
Consort Li nodded gently, her lips curving slightly. When she spoke of the Empress, she always had this gentle and nostalgic expression. "At the end of the Changtai era, rebels emerged and the borders were constantly disturbed, leading to countless wars. It was from that time that His Majesty, as the Fifth Prince, began to accumulate prestige and political achievements."
"At that time, the other princes were good at literature but not at leading troops in battle. Most of the battles were fought by your father and mother together."
Gu Danzhu did not become the empress first, but rather the fifth prince's wife.
Before becoming emperor and empress, the emperor and empress were the closest comrades-in-arms, able to entrust their backs to each other amidst the flames of war, fighting side by side countless times, and breaking through the encirclement together.
The subsequent palace coup allowed Wei Tianxuan to ascend the throne as a matter of course, and his sister, a famous general, relinquished her military power and chose to enter the palace to become his empress, bearing him a son and a daughter.
Later, the beautiful woman died young, and the empress became a taboo, a sensitive issue that the affectionate emperor could not touch.
The elder sister, whom the palace servants feared and avoided, and kept silent about, was Consort Li's pride.
Time is merciless, pushing people forward. The people gradually forgot that there was once a female general in the previous dynasty who had achieved great military exploits and was comparable to the emperor. But they will always remember her and sing her praises forever. Over the years, Consort Li, who could not say these words to others, recited them again and again before the Heavenly Ancestor, almost making the stone statue's ears calloused.
She gazed at the Heavenly Ancestor, offering all her wishes to her sister, hoping that she would be blessed with great fortune, long life, and good health in her next life, and that she would no longer be an empress.
Wei Yihua listened to the story, the story of the Empress.
Her birth mother once transformed into a red-tasseled spear, and also into a gentle, tender woman.
The surging emotions in her heart came so inexplicably and so overwhelmingly. Wei Yihua suddenly understood why she had also loved martial arts since childhood, why she could always master a move with ease, and why she was so competitive and never willing to admit defeat.
Those marks and traces from her birth mother on her body are relics left by the blood ties that bind her to her loved ones, which she cherishes and revisits day and night after becoming aware of them.
Wei Yihua and Consort Li looked at each other, and they both understood something from each other's eyes—an unspeakable warmth and pain.
Wei Yihua smiled, a genuine smile, but tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. She held back her tears and asked softly, "...Does Mother miss the Empress Dowager too?"
Consort Li said, "I've been thinking about it for over ten years."
Wei Yihua could no longer hold back her tears.
"Hua'er seems to have never known Mother's name." Wei Yihua bent down and hugged Consort Li's waist, her voice trembling uncontrollably, "...Can Hua'er know? Mother's name, Hua'er wants to know."
Consort Li stroked her head, her heart, which had been lonely, now filled only with contentment and tenderness.
She knew that from this day forward, there would be someone who, like her, would always remember and cherish her sister.
"Gu Qinglan," Consort Li replied gently, "the blue of water where the blue never ends."
Gu Qinglan.
The eldest daughter of the Gu family is devoted to her family; the second daughter of the Gu family surpasses her mother in virtue.
Gu Baifeng showed no favoritism to anyone. Even though Gu Qinglan knew she was not as brave or as talented as her sister, her father protected his weak and incompetent concubine's daughter as if she were his proud legitimate daughter.
Gu Danzhu never let go of her hand first, except in the face of life and death.
Despite the turmoil of the world and the gossips, and despite the differences between legitimate and illegitimate children, the sisters are of one heart.
Gu Qinglan never regretted becoming Gu Danzhu's sister, nor did she regret becoming the mother of her sister's daughter.
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Author's note: I'm very satisfied with this writing; tears are streaming down my face...
The story of the Emperor and Empress has a second half, which will be revealed after chapter twenty, along with the mystery of the Crown Prince's death. However, some clever readers might be able to guess the ending of this love story from this chapter.
The legend of the Emperor and Empress was mentioned in Chapter 46, when Yunying told Ningning about it.
Two more chapters, and the third volume will end.
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