Chapter 82 Mid-Autumn Festival
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Li Qinian and the heads of the three judicial departments worked late into the night for half a month. Now, the Xie family's case has been reviewed and is awaiting the emperor's final verdict.
The imperial city has been extremely lively for the past two days. From the square outside the Taiji Palace gate all the way to the stone bridge in the distance, Xie family disciples are kneeling everywhere.
They didn't shout or make a sound, but just knelt there quietly. The memorials they submitted to the emperor through the Hall of State Affairs were piled up into a small mountain in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Twenty years ago, given Emperor Fengle's ruthless nature, he would have certainly arrested all the officials demonstrating outside the palace gates. He wouldn't have said that the law doesn't punish the masses; if you don't want to live, plenty of others will.
Perhaps it's because he's getting older now, and his methods aren't as firm as before. When these people cornered him in the palace, he simply turned a blind eye and a deaf ear.
Under these circumstances, the emperor seemed to be in a good mood and even had the interest to hold a Mid-Autumn Festival poetry gathering.
On the last working day before the holiday, in the evening, Yu Mingshu was leaving the Imperial Household Department, preparing to return to Yongningfang to have a reunion dinner with his family in advance. He saw the group of people at the palace gate in the distance and sighed.
"I don't know what kind of spell the Xie family cast on them. Even when disaster is imminent, they still have such a group of stubborn disciples who are willing to live and die with them."
Chen Qingyue scoffed, "To put it nicely, this is called loyalty between masters and disciples, never abandoning each other. To put it bluntly, they are all in the same boat, sharing both glory and ruin. If the Xie family is convicted, they will also be implicated. Rather than waiting for the court to settle accounts, they might as well take another chance to overturn the verdict."
Yu Mingshu's gaze swept over the assembled officials, but he did not find any members of the Zhang family. He said in surprise, "The Xie family and the Zhang family are usually as close as family. At this critical moment, Zhang Jinghua has disappeared without a trace."
“How cunning he is! Ever since Xie Shichang was arrested in court, Zhang Jinghua took sick leave the next day and didn’t attend court for half a month.” Chen Qingyue said in a low voice, “I heard that the Zhang family is waiting to settle accounts and then have their own protégés fill the vacancies left by the Xie family.”
After a moment of sighing, the two parted ways at the south gate of the imperial city.
Upon entering Yongningfang, Xie Huaijin's house was still heavily guarded, which was intimidating.
Yu Mingshu returned to his own door and had just dismounted when he saw Yuan Yi returning from outside. The two had not seen each other for a long time, and their greetings were filled with a sense of estrangement.
"Sir, have you returned from the academy?"
"I am no longer teaching at the academy."
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingshu was somewhat surprised, "Then what is this...?"
Yuan Yi's lips curled up slightly, but there was an inexplicable bitterness in his eyes. He sighed, "I also want to see the scenery elsewhere."
He did not specify what he was doing after leaving the academy, and Yu Mingshu, who always respected privacy, did not press him for details.
She cupped her hands and smiled, "Very well, I wish you all your wishes come true and that everything goes smoothly."
Yuan Yi stared intently at the bright smile on her face, unaware of how unattainable his wish was.
Deep down he was pessimistic, but he still smiled and replied, "Thank you for your kind words."
…
On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yu Mingshu accompanied the Crown Prince's carriage from the Eastern Palace to the Qingjiangchi Villa.
The carriage was unusually noisy today, for no other reason than that there were two more children on board – the two-and-a-half-year-old Second Prince Liang Tianrui and Princess Fu'an.
Princess Fu'an, who had just learned to speak, kept babbling to Yang Leyi, occasionally uttering simple nursery rhymes. Liang Yuanjun was so annoyed by the noise that she could only close her eyes and frown.
Liang Tianrui, on the other hand, sat quietly beside Yang Leyi, so quiet that he seemed somewhat dazed.
"The young prince and princess are still so small, why not have the wet nurse carry them and arrange another carriage?" Yu Mingshu asked in a low voice.
Yang Leyi said helplessly, "In the afternoon, His Highness went to the Empress's palace to pay his respects, but somehow the princess got attached to him. As soon as the princess left His Highness, he started crying and making a fuss, and the Second Prince started making a fuss when he left the princess. The Empress was helpless and could only ask us to take care of him for the time being."
Yu Mingshu found it intriguing and, disbelieving, took the Second Prince from Yang Leyi's side.
Liang Tianrui was only a few steps away from Princess Fu'an when he immediately burst into tears.
Liang Yuanjun's brow furrowed, and she said impatiently, "Tell him to shut up."
Yu Mingshu awkwardly sent the second prince back, and the child suddenly became quiet, as if a switch had been flipped.
Princess Fu'an, however, was extremely perceptive. She immediately sensed the Crown Prince's unfriendly tone, stared blankly at him, her eyes slightly red, looking as if she was about to cry.
Yu Mingshu quickly picked up the rag doll on the coffee table to attract her attention, afraid that she would start crying again.
Princess Fu'an's hands were small and round, but her grip was surprisingly strong. She snatched the rag doll, wobbled over to Liang Yuanjun's side, and stuffed the rag doll into her arms.
"Giggle, giggle."
Liang Yuanjun opened her eyes impatiently, took the doll, and asked Yu Mingshu, "What is she saying?"
Yu Mingshu forced a translation: "It might mean, 'Brother, give it to me?'"
Liang Yuanjun remained noncommittal, lowered her head to examine the rag doll, and said critically, "It's really ugly."
Princess Fu'an seemed to understand, and with a pout, she began to cry.
Liang Yuanjun was in a real bind. She stammered and changed her mind: "It's not ugly, it's not ugly, okay? Don't cry, I'll have ten identical ones made for you tomorrow, alright?"
Yang Leyi couldn't help but laugh out loud. Liang Yuanjun immediately glared at her and said, "You're still laughing? Tell her to stop crying! If she cries again, I'll punish you by cutting off your salary."
Yang Leyi hurriedly took Princess Fu'an back to comfort her. After finally calming the child down, she scolded, "Your Highness, unclear rewards and punishments are not the way of a wise ruler."
Liang Yuanjun raised an eyebrow. "As long as it works."
When the carriage arrived at Qingjiang Pool, Yang Leyi was finally free and returned the two children to their wet nurse.
The emperor, indulging in his fatherly instincts, specifically requested to stroll through the garden with his twins. The attendants who were looking after the princes and princesses hurriedly sent the young masters over.
Before it even got dark, the garden was already filled with the flickering lights.
Across a pool of green water, Yu Mingshu saw several talented young men standing in a pavilion on the opposite bank, some reciting poems while fanning themselves, others writing something on a table.
A few words inexplicably surfaced in my mind: things have changed, people are no longer the same.
"Yu Zhanshi is known as the most talented woman in the Great Liang Dynasty. Why don't you join in the fun?" Yang Leyi said jokingly.
"No, let's leave this opportunity for fame to the younger generation," Yu Mingshu said shamelessly.
A palace maid whispered, "I heard that this year's poetry gathering has a new twist. His Majesty has invited all the talented scholars to enjoy the scenery and stroll through the garden, composing poems on the spot. The poems they write are then hidden inside lanterns. After the evening banquet, a few lanterns will be randomly selected, and the poems will be chosen from among them to determine the best ones."
In the past, poetry competitions only tested talent, but now they test not only talent but also luck... Yu Mingshu was just glad that he got on board early.
Night fell, and the moon and stars were few.
After several rounds of drinks at the banquet, Yao Qingxi, at the emperor's signal, clapped his hands, and a group of eunuchs carrying lanterns of various shapes came before the emperor.
These lanterns come in various shapes and sizes; some are elegant, some are simple, and some are ornate. The only thing they have in common is that they are all exquisitely crafted.
Yu Mingshu realized what was happening and complained to He Zheng, who had just arrived, "This isn't a test of luck, it's clearly a test of understanding the Emperor's mind."
He Zheng shrugged. "His Majesty dislikes extravagance, so that peony lantern will definitely be rejected."
"Which cup do you think His Majesty will choose first?" Yu Mingshu turned to look at him.
He Zheng glanced over and casually guessed, "I bet on Furong."
"The hibiscus lanterns are quite ordinary, but they match the waters of Qingjiang Pond well."
"And you? Which one do you think it is?"
Yu Mingshu didn't answer, but instead asked him, "Which one do you think His Majesty is least likely to choose?"
He Zheng pondered for a moment, "Pear blossoms, perhaps. Their color is pale and their meaning is melancholic, so they are not suitable for a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet."
The pear blossom lantern he mentioned was the most unique item in the entire venue. While other lanterns appeared only in the shape of a single flower with a wick lit inside a round flower base, the pear blossom lantern was a whole lantern with several delicate flower stamens adorning its carved wooden branches. Each flower stamen contained a cluster of fireflies, their faint glow creating a unique and elegant atmosphere.
Yu Mingshu took an unconventional approach, smiling slightly, "Then I'll bet on pear blossoms."
He Zheng raised his eyebrows, and taking advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was focused on the lanterns, he quietly leaned close to her ear and asked, "If I guess right, what will we do?"
A ticklish sensation ran through her earlobe, and Yu Mingshu pressed her forehead against his. "You're pretty good."
While the two were chatting and laughing, Consort Xiao, who had recently become quite favored, also set her sights on the pear blossom lantern.
The beautiful young woman, in the prime of her youth, frowned, raised her fair hand to tuck her sleeve behind her ear, half-covering her lips, and her eyes flashed with disdain.
"The word 'pear' in 'pear blossom' sounds like 'separation' in 'separation,' implying sadness at parting and longing. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunions. Who was so blind as to put this inauspicious lantern in?"
As soon as she said this, everyone's attention was drawn to her.
The emperor did not order the pear blossom lanterns to be taken down as she wished. Instead, he told Yao Qingxi to bring the lanterns to his face and examine them closely.
"This lantern is exquisitely crafted, pure and elegant, just like the pure white pear blossom. The designer's choice to use fireflies instead of candles for lighting is quite ingenious."
Ignoring Consort Xiao's complaints, he instead praised the exquisite pear blossom lantern, which was tantamount to slapping Consort Xiao in the face in front of everyone.
The crowd's expressions varied, and to Consort Xiao, all their gazes were mocking. The beauty, unable to save face, silently downed several cups of wine, daring not to embarrass herself before the emperor again.
The Empress sat upright beside the Emperor, glancing at Consort Xiao, who was drinking alone in silence, her expression subtly suggestive. Little did Consort Xiao know that these pear blossoms were Zhang Zhuoyan's favorite.
The emperor fiddled with the pear blossom lantern for a while and finally found the stopper at the bottom of the branch, from which he took out the hidden poem.
Yu Mingshu gently nudged He Zheng's arm. "I guessed right."
He Zheng found the smug expression on her face quite adorable, and a smile involuntarily crept into his eyes. "You're truly a brilliant strategist."
Outsiders could only see a fleeting look of amazement in the emperor's eyes as he stared at the words on the scroll for a long time. Afterward, he instructed Yao Qingxi to pass the poem to the officials present.
"All of you here are learned men. I would like to invite you all to critique this long poem together."
He Zheng whispered, "Is this poem good or bad?"
“If it’s unbearable to look at, His Majesty would have just thrown it away. Why bother inviting these scholars to take a look?” Yu Mingshu said in a low voice.
Perhaps the scholars present thought the same way, for after receiving and reading the poem, they all nodded in praise. The most exaggerated was Chen Qu, who, not content with praising the poem, also went on to boast that the Emperor was lucky, setting a good precedent for the evening's poetry gathering.
The poem was passed around the banquet before finally reaching the Crown Prince. Yu Mingshu, out of curiosity, took advantage of his position to peek at it.
Noticing her gaze coming from the side, Liang Yuanjun simply handed the poem to her, asking, "What does Minister Yu think of this poem?"
Yu Mingshu read it through from beginning to end, and after a little thought, he commented: "The technique of describing the scenery and expressing emotions is skillful. The grand scene of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is used to express the author's longing for his father. The theme is cliché, but it wins in terms of the sincerity of the feelings."
The tradition of expressing emotions in poetry has a long history, and genuine feelings should be the most basic requirement for writing poetry. However, being ordered to write poetry at a banquet is like writing an essay on a given topic in an exam. Test takers are used to writing poetry with techniques and formulas, and they are eager for quick success, so it is difficult for them to write with true feelings.
Having seen so many works that merely showcased technical skill, the emperor was naturally struck by the sight of a moving and lyrical piece.
He Zheng suddenly whispered in her ear, "Don't you think the words in this poem look familiar?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingshu glanced at the poem a few more times. The style of the poem didn't leave any particular impression, but there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Seeing that she didn't seem to notice anything, He Zheng directly gave a name, "Yuan Yi".
Yu Mingshu was shocked. "How is that possible?"
“What’s impossible? I’ve never seen anyone else who has such a fondness for bizarre imagery and obscure allusions.” He Zheng perked up and analyzed with her, “Besides, he has lived with his mother all these years and has never met his biological father. It’s perfectly reasonable for him to write poems to express his longing for his father.”
It's reasonable, yet it feels strange.
Yu Mingshu looked at him suspiciously, "When did you study his poetry collection?"
He Zheng clicked his tongue, "You forgot? During the imperial examination, he gave you a set of questions."
Yu Mingshu then remembered what he was talking about and exclaimed in astonishment, "You only glanced at it, yet it left such a deep impression?"
He Zheng said, "I definitely can't memorize it, but I will definitely remember the writing style."
Just then, the emperor waved his sleeve and ordered the poem to be taken back, then asked Yao Qingxi, "Where is the author of this poem?"
Yao Qingxi turned to ask his young apprentice, Tong Shun, whose smile froze on his face, looking somewhat troubled.
"Your Majesty, the poet left quietly after completing the poem and is no longer in the garden..."
Everyone was amazed. Which of the talented young people who came to the poetry gathering didn't want to make a name for themselves? How could someone write a masterpiece and then leave without asking for any reward or fame, without saying a word?
The emperor pressed further, "What is his name?"
Tong Shun's expression became even more strange. He hesitated for a moment, then leaned close to Yao Qingxi's ear and whispered something. Yao Qingxi's face also showed some hesitation.
The emperor was getting impatient. "It's just a name, why is it so hard to say?"
Yao Qingxi stepped forward with a stiff upper lip and replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this poem was written by Young Master Yuan."
In the entire city of Chang'an, the only man surnamed Yuan who could give Yao Qingxi a hard time was Yuan Yi.
The emperor's smile gradually faded, but his eyes showed no disgust or disdain; instead, they revealed a hint of regret.
"He is not interested in fame or fortune, but I cannot owe him a reward."
The emperor's gaze swept over Yao Qingxi's lowered and submissive face, and Yao Qingxi immediately understood his meaning.
…
After the banquet, an inconspicuous carriage headed straight for Yongningfang.
Inside the courtyard, Yuan Yi sat silently under the osmanthus tree, a bowl of osmanthus wine on the table still not empty after two hours.
A knock sounded at the door. He was about to get up when Zhang Zhuoyan went to open it first. As expected, the visitor was Yao Qingxi.
"What brings Eunuch Yao here at night?"
"Young Master Yuan is exceptionally talented and won first place in the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering. His Majesty ordered me to deliver this reward to him."
Yao Qingxi smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits. He beckoned, and Tong Shun unloaded a heavy box from the car and carried it into the yard.
Zhang Zhuoyan glanced at Yuan Yi, then bowed slightly to Yao Qingxi, saying, "Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated by my concubine and Yilang. Please ask Eunuch Yao to convey our gratitude to the Emperor."
Yao Qingxi hurriedly agreed, then lowered his eyes, stepped forward, and said in a low voice, "His Majesty invites Lady Zhang to the West Garden for a talk."
Inside the courtyard, Yuan Yi clenched his sleeves tightly.
Zhang Zhuoyan took a half step back and bowed gracefully to Yao Qingxi. "It is late at night, and it is inconvenient for me to go out. Let's talk about it after dawn."
Yao Qingxi asked urgently, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there is no curfew in the city. What are you worried about, Madam Zhang?"
Yuan Yi stepped forward to interrupt, but Zhang Zhuoyan blocked him from behind.
She met Yao Qingxi's gaze directly, her phoenix eyes filled with an unprecedented firmness, and said clearly, "Eunuch Yao, I have never been afraid of the taboos of the world, nor do I care about the opinions of outsiders. What I can't get over is the hurdle in my own heart."
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