Chapter 81 Zixia
As the country celebrated, even the sunlight shining on the Daming Palace seemed a little brighter.
The emperor, empress and prince, the most noble family in the world, returned to the Greenhouse Palace together, all with joy.
The emperor and empress discussed the arrangements for the day of offering the captives, and when they thought of the days since the war, it seemed like a lifetime ago.
"By the way, regarding the Lingling County Lady's funeral for her mother, the Empress sent the Internal Palace Bureau and the Imperial Household Department to work together to finalize the funeral procedures with the Changhua Palace. After all, this is the first time a woman has presided over a funeral. Madam Qi's funeral will take place the following day, and we must ensure that nothing goes wrong."
The Queen nodded in agreement, then remembered something and asked softly, "Your Majesty, in the Purple Palace, why did you agree to the Lingling County Lady's request after reading the victory report?"
The emperor did not answer, but motioned the prince to come closer, took out the victory report from his sleeve, and placed it on the table.
"Queen, please take a look at the last part of today's victory report with the Crown Prince."
The victory report was a thick folded page of hemp paper. The prince turned it to the end and saw a few lines of small characters at the end. They were slightly different from the previous content. It was obvious that they were temporarily added after the letter was finished.
"Also: Soldiers swore an oath to wipe out the rebels, and many have sacrificed their lives. Many border towns have seen men go to the frontier, leaving women and children to stay home. Many women in the army have come to retrieve the remains, hoping to bring their souls home. However, military discipline and customs prohibit women from attending funerals, making it difficult for them to claim the remains, and they are forced to bury them in the wilderness. Even those brave enough to fear no death have been chilled by the afterlife, and their fear of battle is inevitably growing. Therefore, many soldiers are eager for wives and daughters to carry their coffins and attend funerals. I hope the court will consider this matter and issue an edict to change this practice. Perhaps this will comfort the souls of the soldiers and boost morale."
The prince stared silently at these hastily written but meaningful lines, lost in thought.
The Queen whispered, "The vassal states and the military have always been poorly disciplined, and with war raging like a comb, chaos reigns everywhere. I'm afraid only two or three out of ten men are still able to remain in their families to mourn. Now that Prince Linhuai has specifically brought this up, I imagine there are already signs of this happening at the border, and even among the people."
The emperor said, "Now that we have come this far, and are the first to set a new trend in the world, how can we allow the officials of the vassal states to initiate it?"
It is obviously more appropriate for the court to select a suitable person to take charge of this matter than to let the people at the border do it. It can also serve as an example, allowing the world to quickly know about it and follow suit, and promote this move.
The leader is the Princess of Lingling, who comes from a family of loyal and brave people and is alone in her own home. She is the best candidate because of the right time and place.
The prince looked at the few lines of words that Prince Linhuai had added temporarily after reporting the great victory, and suddenly remembered the moment when Qiandeng went to the Shuofang Army camp in the midst of the chaos and persuaded him to follow Prince Linhuai into the Daming Palace.
In that critical battle, Prince Linhuai stayed beside her and explained to her in detail the detailed characteristics of the bowstring pad and the murderer.
Just like the ending of the victory report at this time, the few extra words he added, carelessly or with other intentions, paved the way for Qiandeng and sent her on the way to where she wanted to go.
He slowly closed the report in his hand and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, your father is wise. Your son, your mother, and I heard the Princess of Lingling recount the tragedy in her mansion at Jianfu Temple. It was indeed caused by the incident of the maiden ablution that happened to Lady Dingxiang. This incident has caused countless disasters and is a cause for great regret. If the royal family can show their favor and approve, Lingling will be used as an example, starting with funeral ceremonies, to change customs at the border and in the army. The people will follow suit, and gradually spread the practice. I believe that the customs of maiden ablution and infant drowning will be eradicated."
The emperor nodded in agreement and said, "In that case, you will draft an edict for me, granting the request of Prince Linhuai. For soldiers who died in the army, their mothers, wives, and daughters can come to the army to claim their bodies and hold funerals. They will also receive the same compensation."
The Empress solemnly agreed, "Princess Lingling will handle the funeral for her mother's spirit and spirit cloth. I will order the Internal Palace Bureau, the Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial Household Department to coordinate and ensure perfection. This matter must not only be carried out, but also be carried out to perfection, setting an example for others!"
With the support of the imperial court, the entire process of the funeral at the Changhua Palace went smoothly. The Ministry of Rites and the Internal Palace Bureau meticulously arranged everything, ensuring it all came together smoothly.
However, Lady Dingxiang's affair was exposed and she committed suicide. Although Yang Jiazhi did not blame Qiandeng, he could no longer stay in the palace.
The two elders of the Huang family knew that the Empress Dowager and the Queen had personally praised their granddaughter, and they saw that their grandson Huang Yan was in good health after the child was born. After having a full meal at home, he clamored for a younger sister. So they immediately came to pick up their granddaughter, apologized to Yang Jiazhi, and pulled Huang Yan to beg her to come home for a reunion. Finally, they brought Yang Jiazhi and the wet nurses and maids of the palace back home.
The court deadline had arrived, and Huang Min reluctantly bid farewell to his wife and said goodbye to his friends at Changting.
When Huang Min finished composing the poem by breaking willow branches, he was about to mount his horse when he looked up and saw a large number of carriages and horses coming. It was Prince Guang who was ordered to go to Luoyang and was bidding farewell to his noble relatives in the pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, warm wine was served as a farewell, creating a lively atmosphere. Huang Min, a minor official, had no say in front of Prince Guang, so he led his horse to the official road and was about to leave.
Suddenly, a childish voice came from behind: "Daddy! Daddy, wait for us!"
Huang Min looked back and saw a green-covered carriage hurriedly approaching. His son Huang Yan's little head popped out of the window and was shouting at him.
He hurried over to him and asked, "Ayan, why are you here?"
When he pushed open the car door, he was pleasantly surprised to find Yang Jiazhi sitting in the car, wrapped tightly with a small white flower on her temples. She was holding her daughter in her arms and looking at him with reluctance on her face.
"It's freezing cold. Why are you coming here instead of taking good care of yourself?" Huang Min complained. He quickly squeezed into the car, held her hand, and hugged their daughter. "Don't worry, our daughter was born safely, and A-Yan is well again. Once I'm settled in Shu and you're done with your confinement, I'll send Uncle Cheng to pick you three up and bring you over slowly. We'll be reunited as a family by next summer or autumn at the latest."
Yang Jiazhi nodded in agreement and continued, "Ayan just asked me what my sister's name was. Then I remembered that we've been so busy these past few days that we haven't even picked a name for our daughter yet. So I hired a carriage and quickly caught up to ask you."
Huang Min held his wife and daughter tightly in his arms, knowing that she hadn't come after him just for their daughter's name. They kept going back and forth, and after this farewell, it would take a year or two before they could meet again.
The baby girl in his arms opened her round eyes and looked at him curiously.
Huang Min was overjoyed. She grabbed her little hand and kissed it. She then teased her pink cheeks and said, "Let me think of a name that would suit the hardships and luck of her birth..."
A long breeze blew past the car window, and the branches of the catalpa trees on the roadside slowly swayed, filtering in the thin winter sunlight.
Huang Min gazed at the towering catalpa tree, providing shelter from the wind and rain, and pondered, "Our child's smooth birth is thanks to Princess Lingling. Despite rumors of her being unfaithful to her family and unlucky in marriage, despite her relationship with her mother-in-law and Huaijiang... well, never mind that. The Princess is resolute and tenacious, just like this catalpa tree. Even with the wind and rain, and the ravages of insects, her graceful beauty remains undimmed. A tree might be strong, but a few flaws are nothing to worry about... I think we should name our child Zixia. May she, too, be fearless of wind and rain, undeterred by hardships, and steadfastly grow into a towering tree."
"Zixia, Huang Zixia..." Yang Jiazhi silently recited the name. When her heart was surging, there was a "bang" sound outside the carriage. Then, a small colorful ball flew in from the open door, hit the baby's swaddling clothes, and fell beside her hand.
The baby girl's hands moved subconsciously, hooking up the small colorful ball with pearls and golden bells. Amid the crisp shaking sound, she looked at the colorful tassels curiously.
A boy poked his head in from outside the car door, an embarrassed look written on his pretty face: "This is my ball, can you give it back to me?"
It was Li Zi, the youngest son of Prince Guang.
Prince Guang and the officials who were seeing him off were drinking wine and writing poems. The young prince was bored and was playing with a ball outside while waiting. Unexpectedly, he was hit by the horse next to him, and the ball flew into the carriage and hit the little Zixia.
Yang Jiazhi hurried to get the ball, but the tassel was entangled on the baby's finger and was difficult to untie. Afraid of hurting her tender fingers, the couple did not dare to pull it hard. They could only tease her to let her hand drop and asked Li Zi to wait for a while.
The carriage was narrow, so Li Zi leaned in, looked at the child in their arms, and asked, "Is this Envoy Huang's daughter? I saw her the other day at Jianfu Temple. She was so tiny."
"Yes, she was born just a few days ago." Huang Min smiled and held the swaddle a little lower, proudly letting him see her daughter.
Li Zi looked at the baby girl's rosy cheeks and big, bright black eyes, then carefully held her hand holding the colored ball. She was a little surprised: "She has such a small hand, and she has even smaller nails, only the size of rice grains."
Yang Jiazhi and Huang Min couldn't help but smile at each other. The colored ball finally fell from Li Zi's little hand.
Li Zi held the colored ball in one hand and the baby girl's hand in the other, observing curiously, "She still has palm prints, and they're quite clear."
As he spoke, he placed his much larger hand against her small palm and compared it with hers.
The two palm lines, one large and one small, stuck together, as if they were going to spread and grow in one place. From then on, their destinies intersected and became entangled for life.
Volume 4: Night of the Naruto
On the first day of the first lunar month, there will be a great meeting.
The entire city of Chang'an was decorated with lanterns and a three-day grand feast was held. People from all 108 districts gathered to feast and drink, creating a bustling and lively atmosphere.
Since the Kaiyuan period, Chang'an City has not seen such a prosperous and lively scene for a long time.
Chang'an, which had been declining since the An-Shi Rebellion, regained its long-awaited new glory after the war.
The gates of the Nine Heavens are opened to the palace, and people from all over the world pay homage to the imperial crown. (Note: From Wang Wei's "Another Early Morning Audience with Jia Sheren at the Daming Palace")
All officials of the court above the ninth rank gathered in Hanyuan Hall, and there were also royal relatives, ladies of noble birth, foreign officials, envoys from various countries, and Jinshi candidates who came to congratulate in batches. The ceremonial procession of drums and music was complicated, and the palace maids and eunuchs walked briskly and hurriedly.
After the imperial ceremony, everyone looked towards the palace gate expectantly, waiting for the arrival of the powerful army.
Soon, the sound of horse hooves was heard coming from afar, and armored soldiers wearing red and decorated with ribbons came majestically, escorting the captured culprit amid the cheers of the crowd.
Entering Danfeng Gate and crossing the Imperial Bridge, they arrived at the Dragon Tail Road in front of Hanyuan Hall. The soldiers dismounted, pushed the captives to the steps, and presented the captured enemy general's head, shouting "Long live the enemy" and bowing to the captives.
On the left and right sides of Hanyuan Hall, royal relatives and ladies gathered. On the left, in Xiangluan Pavilion, were the princes and kings, while on the right, in Qifeng Pavilion, was where the empress and ladies of the court gathered to celebrate.
The end of the war and the surrender of captives were a major event of great joy for the nation. The entire hall was ablaze with joy. Among the crimson and purple silk garments, only Qiandeng wore a lighter purple dress than the others. She wore only two plain gauze palace flowers on her head, making her appear even more plain and simple amid the vibrant colors of the hall.
Everyone knew that she had just lost her mother and it was not appropriate for her to show up in public, but she was the only one left in the Changhua Palace. Apart from her, who else could attend the party?
Madam Cui walked over to Qiandeng and looked down with her at the grand ceremony of presenting the captives. Amid the sound of drums and music, she gently reminded her, "The wind is strong in the high pavilion. Let it blow for a while. Come in and take shelter from the wind."
Qian Deng agreed, but continued searching for the figure on Longwei Road. "I heard that Prince Linhuai's injuries have improved and he has come to the capital to meet the emperor. He has been very kind to me, but the Shuofang Army has strict discipline, and it would be inconvenient for a woman like me to enter the camp. So I was wondering if I could find an opportunity to thank him today."
Madam Cui smiled and said, "That's easy. I also helped the palace prepare for the captive offering and know the procedures. The singing and dancing performances will begin shortly. The ladies can go down to Qifeng Pavilion to watch them together. They're not far from the soldiers. Even if Prince Linhuai has a lot of people around him, wouldn't it be enough to find a gap and have Fufeng take you there?"
Qian Deng nodded gratefully: "Thank you, Madam. I'm sorry to trouble Cui Shaoqing again."
"You child, you are being so formal again." Mrs. Cui patted the back of her hand, smiled at her, and turned to serve the empress dowager.
Qiandeng leaned on the railing and looked down again, and saw someone from the Shuofang army standing out from the crowd and going straight up Longwei Road.
He ascended the steps with an exceptionally agile demeanor, a stark contrast to the others who followed him. The fine steel armor he wore gleamed brilliantly, and the gentle breeze blew his scarlet cape high like clouds, making his figure appear even taller and more majestic, like a god.
Everyone around subconsciously murmured, not to mention the ladies, even the patrolling inner army soldiers stretched their necks.
Prince of Linhuai, Li Yingshang. This legendary Northwestern hero, the man who saved the world and reshaped the Tang Dynasty, now appeared before millions of people in Chang'an, causing a natural sensation.
Qiandeng couldn't help but lean slightly in front of the railing, wanting to take a closer look at this familiar yet unfamiliar person.
Unfortunately, he was in Longwei Road and she was in Qifeng Pavilion. Looking from the diagonal angle behind him, he was fully armed, with the phoenix-wing helmet covering most of his face and neck, so she couldn't see his appearance at all.
Seeing that majestic figure striding into Hanyuan Hall, the surrounding noble ladies, who were also eager to see the elegant demeanor of Prince Linhuai, sighed. Qiandeng could only abandon the thought and leave the railing.
As she was turning around, her lowered gaze unconsciously shifted and happened to meet the gaze of someone in the crowd.
That was another group of soldiers who had surrendered to the enemy. Their clothing and appearance were very different from those of the Shuofang Army and also very different from those in the Central Plains. It was obvious that they were the Uighur Army who had surrendered to the enemy together with the Shuofang Army.
During the Fengtian Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty saw two emperors and four kings establish themselves, with wars and divisions raging everywhere. Despite the valor of the Shuofang Army, it could not single-handedly suppress the numerous rebellions. To extricate itself from this predicament, the imperial court, as was customary, borrowed troops from the Uighurs to quell the rebellion. A joint siege by both sides quickly quelled the fighting and stabilized the situation.
The one looking up at her was none other than the young leader of the Uighur army. He wore a heart-shaped golden crown, his brocade robes were intricately embroidered with branches and flowers, and his facial features were far more profound than those of the Central Plains people.
Seeing her looking into his eyes, his amber eyes narrowed, and with his slightly curly hair, he looked like a sturdy lion, staring at his new prey.
This rude and direct gaze pierced through the thousands of noisy people below, making Qiandeng feel a little frightened.
She pursed her lips and glared at him.
However, the foreigner was ignorant of etiquette. Seeing that she was unhappy, he raised his eyebrows and smiled at her. His snow-white teeth and light-colored eyes were even more dazzling in the sunlight.
The noble ladies around felt something was wrong, and subconsciously looked back at the man, trying to find the person he was looking at.
Qiandeng immediately turned around and left the railing to avoid misunderstanding and trouble.
As the light-colored figure turned and left, disappearing among the gorgeous clothes in the hall, the man below continued to follow her with his eyes until he could no longer see the light purple color, and then he turned back reluctantly.
The messenger beside him asked with a smile, "How come Prince Mingjiu, who claimed before leaving that he didn't like the delicate girls of the Tang Dynasty, has been dazzled by the delicate flowers as soon as he arrived in Chang'an?"
"I just hate the royal court's self-imposed arrangements for me. Just because she's the granddaughter of Prince Changhua, and her grandfather is so powerful, does that mean I should marry her?" Mingjiu snorted and replied bitterly in Uighur. "What if that woman doesn't have the qualities of her father and grandfather? Wouldn't it be a huge loss for me to marry her?"
"The royal court simply hopes that His Highness will choose her. After all, the Tang Dynasty currently has no princesses of marriageable age. Rather than marrying a distant royal family member, it would be better to marry the granddaughter of Prince Changhua. After all, who among us Western Regions doesn't admire Prince Changhua?"
"Having said that..." His gaze involuntarily turned towards the Qifeng Pavilion above.
However, the slender figure among the carved beams and painted buildings and the gauze curtains and draperies was no longer there.
The interpreter followed his gaze, but couldn't tell which of the crowd he was looking at, so he asked, "Your Highness, are there any ladies you're interested in?"
"I saw a girl I've seen before. I'm sure it's the one from the other day," he said excitedly. "When we first arrived at the outskirts of Beijing, the soldiers trampled over a wheat field. The farmers even dared to demand compensation, so we captured them and made them work building the camp."
The interpreter also recalled this incident and said suddenly, "Later, a girl came to retrieve the people. She said those people were the managers of her farm. She was on business there, so she came with a letter from the Imperial Guards to redeem them. However, I remember she came the day before yesterday wearing a veil and never showed her face."
"Although I didn't see her face, I knew at a glance from her posture as she rode over. This girl must be quite something." He raised his head and glanced towards Qifeng Pavilion again, a smug look on his face. "I was right, wasn't I? Of all the people here, no one is as pretty as her."
The interpreter didn't think that he could accurately recognize the girl in a crowd just by looking at her figure, but he couldn't refute it, so he just echoed with the people around him: "The prince really has good taste!"
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