Chapter Thirty-Nine: My Son's Good Fortune
The early summer breeze, carrying the fragrance of newly blooming gardenias from the Imperial Garden, gently brushed against the palace walls, yet could not dispel the increasingly festive atmosphere both inside and outside the capital. The wedding procession arrived in the capital shortly after the Seventh Prince, Zhen Yunji, returned. Banners fluttered, camel bells jingled, and Princess Su Yuanya of the Xiongnu Daur tribe from the northern grasslands brought exotic charm and a peaceful alliance. In no time, news of the Seventh Prince's impending marriage to a foreign princess spread throughout the capital, becoming the hottest topic of conversation in teahouses and taverns.
The emperor issued an edict, to show his respect and to allow Princess Yuanya to familiarize herself with the etiquette of the Central Plains, ordering her to temporarily reside at the residence of Guo Huairou, the Minister of Rites, pending the auspicious day and time selected by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
On this day, the gates of the Guo residence were wide open. Huairou, dressed in an elegant lotus-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair meticulously styled, waited at the gate early with the servants. A complex mix of emotions welled up within her. Over the years, she and Yunji had been nominally "ruler and subject," but in reality, she regarded him as her own son, and through countless days and nights spent together, they had forged a deep and extraordinary bond. Now, her "son" was getting married, and as his "mother," she felt both joy and a faint, lingering sense of melancholy.
The carriage slowly came to a stop, the curtain was lifted, and a young girl in brightly colored ethnic clothing stepped lightly down with the help of a maid. She was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with healthy honey-colored skin, deep and bright features, and eyes as clear and bright as stars on the grassland. Most remarkably, she did not possess the ruggedness and unruliness of the nomadic people as rumored; instead, her movements exuded agility and tranquility, and her every glance was graceful and poised.
"Sister Huairou, I've finally met you!" As soon as Princess Yuanya stopped, her gaze locked onto Huairou, who was standing in the main seat. She quickly stepped forward, and before Huairou could speak, she placed her right hand on her chest and bowed slightly according to the etiquette of the grasslands. Her voice was as clear and melodious as a nightingale's song, "This humble daughter, Daursu Yuanya, wishes you, sister, a thousand blessings!"
The official rhetoric Huairou had prepared vanished instantly in the face of this undisguised warmth and closeness. She quickly reached out to help her up, a genuine smile spreading across her face. She looked the girl up and down, admiring her inwardly. The girl possessed a natural air of heroism, yet her excellent upbringing made her gentle and charming. The intricate embroidery and shimmering silver ornaments on her ethnic costume further accentuated her delicate beauty.
“Princess Yuanya, please rise. I am unworthy of your great courtesy,” Huairou said, taking Yuanya’s hand in hers, the touch cool yet firm. “You are truly a rare find, Princess Yuanya. You are a girl one in a million.” These were not mere formalities, but came from the bottom of her heart. She had imagined what her future “daughter-in-law” would look like, but she had never imagined she would be so pleasing to the eye, so delightful.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Ya's face blossomed into an even brighter smile. She naturally and affectionately took Huai Rou's arm, as if they were sisters who had known each other for many years. Her tone was filled with undisguised admiration and joy: "Sister Huai Rou, you flatter me! You may not know me, but I've known you for a long time! When General Qi Yu and Prince Yun Ji were in the Northern Border, they often mentioned your intelligence and the academy you founded in their tents... I listened to them and longed for it so much!"
The two walked side by side, whispering to each other, casting aside any initial awkwardness of their first meeting. Yuan Ya curiously observed the elegant courtyard of the Guo residence, while Huai Rou patiently explained the customs and sights of the Central Plains to her. Together, they paid their respects to the elders of the Guo family. Yuan Ya's graceful demeanor and respectful speech quickly won everyone's favor.
Looking at Yuan Ya's bright smile, Huai Rou's subtle sense of melancholy was gradually replaced by the joy of being a "parent." It was truly a great blessing for her "son" to have found such a clever, intelligent, and loving wife.
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Yunji requested a portrait of his mother from his father, the Emperor. After carefully mounting it, he hung it in the inner chamber of his bedchamber. The woman in the painting smiled gently, her features bearing a striking resemblance to his own. Whenever he gazed at the portrait, his restless heart would slowly calm down, becoming as clear as water. Moreover, his mother's portrait truly resembled Huairou.
In a few days, it will be his wedding to Yuan Ya. This is not just a personal wedding, but also a symbol of the formal alliance between the country and the Xiongnu Daur tribe, which is related to the long-term peace and stability of the border. At the wedding, his father will read out the edict establishing him as the crown prince, and his identity as the eldest son of the legitimate wife, which he has kept hidden for more than ten years, will be made public.
At this moment, standing on the threshold of power, he felt an unusual calm. With the power he had quietly accumulated in the court and the recognition he had gained in the army, it seemed that only the imperial tally bestowed by his father, the emperor, was missing from truly wielding power; and only a sincere letter was needed to mobilize the iron cavalry under his father-in-law's command in the Xiongnu. The court struggles that had once seemed so complicated to him, the petty scheming of officials, now appeared in his eyes as if the old power structure, which had seemed impregnable, had been silently and imperceptibly cleared away by his father and himself, like fruit peels and scraps of paper left over from a commoner's after-dinner conversation.
He thought of Huairou. In some mysterious way, it was she who, in her own way, fulfilled his deepest longing and yearning for his mother. She was his mentor, his friend, and his closest family member. He could not, and would never, betray the ideals of governance and the vision for the people's well-being that they had envisioned through their long talks under the lamp and their correspondence. That dream of practical learning, of a prosperous nation and a strong people, now had a greater chance of being realized.
Huairou has indeed been in a very good mood lately. The busy preparations for the wedding have eased many of her thoughts. She watched Princess Yuanya diligently learning etiquette to adapt to life in the Central Plains, saw the gleam in her eyes when she mentioned Yunji, and saw how she always protected Yunji's reputation and interests. The joy of "my son has grown up" and the satisfaction of "marrying a good wife" were impossible to hide.
She thought that Yunji must be extremely busy right now. Preparing for the grand wedding, dealing with changes in the court, adapting to his new identity... a thousand and one things to do. But no matter what his future identity will be: the seventh prince or the crown prince, no matter how he lives: a carefree prince or a future emperor, he already has the ability and resources to make a living. He will no longer be as cautious as he was in his childhood, worried about being neglected or manipulated, nor will he be a lonely figure under the moon, pitying his own shadow.
In the stillness of the night, she would reflect. The so-called "mother and son" relationship had been so short; the time they could truly spend together day and night was so fleeting. Looking back, when her son was young, she was there for him day and night, personally taking care of his every need, from food and clothing to shelter and education. When Yunji was a teenager, he had to study more arts and skills during the day, and she was fortunate enough to accompany him, listening to his daily experiences and worries. When Yunji became a young man, he went to the northern border, becoming the child she could only see once a long time, until graduation, maintaining that warmth and connection through letters. Now, Yunji was about to start a family, and perhaps in the future, they would only be able to reunite briefly during holidays and important ceremonies. And beyond that… she dared not think further; it might be an even longer separation, perhaps even an eternal farewell.
"Perhaps maternal love is just a series of orderly withdrawals like this," she sighed softly, gazing at the bright moonlight outside the window. She felt incredibly fortunate to have accompanied him through this most crucial period of his life, a time when he needed guidance and warmth most, and to have witnessed his growth from a sensitive and timid child into a pillar of society capable of standing on his own and shouldering heavy responsibilities.
The wedding day finally arrived.
On this day, the imperial city was brightly decorated with lanterns and filled with the sounds of drums and music. The roadsides from the palace to the Guo residence were already crowded with people who had come to witness the ceremony. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the foreign princess and to witness this political marriage that symbolized peace and prosperity.
Huairou had dressed in her proper attire early on, and stood with her father and elder brother in the procession of civil and military officials and noblewomen, as part of the "bride escort," awaiting the start of the ceremony. Her gaze pierced through the layers of people, landing on the high ceremonial platform.
That secret conversation between her and Prince Geon about Yunji's true identity had once been an untouchable taboo. Now, it was about to come true. From afar, she saw a man who resembled Yunji, dressed in the elaborate robes befitting a crown prince, standing tall and composed beside the emperor, receiving the gaze of the people.
The edict appointing the crown prince was read aloud by the eunuch. When Yunji's status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife was revealed to the public, many officials in the ranks were filled with shock and disbelief. However, just as Huairou had predicted, the situation was now clear. With powerful support behind the scenes (including the military power in the north and the alliance with the Xiongnu), Yunji's ascension to the throne was a natural progression. Those feelings of astonishment and resentment were quickly drowned out by a tidal wave of congratulations and homage.
Huairou felt a sense of calm, even tinged with a slight sense of loss. She didn't care what Yunji's current status was, or what he would become in the future. In her eyes, Yunji was simply Yunji, the boy who would debate with her about governing strategies, the "son" who, even amidst the snowstorms of the northern border, would still write to her to express his longing. As long as he was safe, happy, and able to realize his ambitions, that was enough.
Yunji stood in the center of the crowd, receiving the worship of the court officials and countless commoners. The deafening cries of "Long live the Emperor!" filled his ears, yet he felt a strange sense of alienation. At the pinnacle of power, amidst boundless glory, he gazed down at the dense crowd below, desperately searching for a familiar figure.
He was admired by the world, yet he seemed further away from "love and respect." Without that gentle, smiling gaze full of understanding and encouragement, without that person by his side with whom he could let down his guard and speak freely, the ultimate glory and clamor before him seemed so heavy and unreal.
The ceremony continued, banners fluttering, music resounding. Huairou stood in the crowd, smiling, looking at her "son." Sunlight shone on her, warm and bright, just like her mood at that moment—full of blessings, and also brimming with the complex and profound, silent love of a "mother" as she orderly withdrew.
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