Empress Xining
Xiao Chang'an interrupted, saying, "Based on your trajectory, if nothing unexpected happens, you will be the successor to Empress Xining within the Shangguan family, and the next Miss Shangguan will also share the same fate of marriage. But why did you choose a completely opposite path, instead of learning music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and being a wife and mother, you chose to inherit the Shangguan family's martial arts and become a tomb keeper who is without desires and stays away from power?"
To understand Shangguan Yuqi's current status in the Southern Dynasty, while she still inherits the legacy of Empress Xining and remains the highly regarded head of the Shangguan family, her primary identity is that of the Southern Dynasty's foremost swordsman. Because of this identity, everyone must treat her with respect and cannot regard her as an ordinary young lady from a prominent family. Even Emperor Xie Lang must treat her with courtesy, and even her cousin, the current Right Chancellor Shangguan You, dares not force her to marry into the royal family.
If she were an ordinary young lady from a wealthy family, she would not have the right to decide her own marriage, and in the palace, she would not be able to come and go as she pleased.
Outstanding martial arts practitioners, standing apart from the imperial court, always possess another respectable and transcendent identity.
Shangguan Yuqi was lost in memories of the past. After a moment, she said, "My temperament was different from my aunt's from a young age. I didn't like playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, or composing poems and lyrics. The first time I accompanied my aunt to my thirteenth uncle's study for a meeting, I saw the 'Ice Bamboo' hanging on the wall and immediately felt an instant connection with it. When my uncle saw me staring at it intently, he took the sword down and let me play with it. He laughed and said that most of the younger generation in the family who had seen this sword were envious, but I was the first girl to do so."
What no one expected was that she would later become the first woman in the Shangguan family to take charge of "Binghuang".
Seeing that she was holding the "Ice Bamboo" in her hand and examining it closely with a look of utter delight, Yanxiu smiled and said to Shangguan Jin, "If she could be this diligent in learning calligraphy and reading accounts, then after I leave home, my uncle will not have to worry about losing his arm."
When Yanxiu mentioned leaving home, she was referring to the time after she married into the Empress's palace. By then, her entry into the palace had already been set, and she devoted herself even more to the training of Yuqi, giving her detailed instructions and guidance in every aspect, knowing that this was probably the last time the aunt and niece would spend together in their private quarters.
Shangguan Jin stared at Yuqi with a strange look in his eyes. Instead of answering, he asked, "Yuqi, do you have time to accompany your uncle to the family cemetery these days?"
Yanxiu knew what he was planning to do and immediately interrupted him reproachfully, "Absolutely not. She is such a young girl in the prime of her life. I hope she will have a happy and fulfilling future. I don't want her to suffer in the grave. Uncle, you have experienced those days of 'not seeing the sun every day and not knowing spring every year.' Don't even think about me sending her there."
Shangguan Jin smiled and said, "You don't think much about yourself, but you plan far ahead for her."
Yanxiu paused for a moment, then said with a bitter smile, "It seems that all my calculations for myself are useless." Her expression was desolate, filled with a deep sense of sadness that was hard to express.
Shangguan Jin's eyes also revealed a trace of insightful compassion.
Yuqi then realized that Yanxiu probably did not want to marry into the palace.
The family members had always avoided discussing this marriage, but all considered it a responsibility of the Shangguan family: as the leading family of civil officials in Jiangzuo, the Shangguan family had always had the responsibility to assist the emperor. The sons of the Shangguan family often held high-ranking official positions, while the daughters often became empresses and concubines. This had become a recognized tradition within the family, and it also showed the importance that the emperors of the Southern Dynasties placed on the Shangguan family.
Therefore, there is no other possibility for Yanxiu's marriage.
Yanxiu quickly composed herself and changed the subject, saying, "Whether our elders sacrificed or persevered, wasn't it all so that the next generation could live more freely and follow their own hearts? The responsibilities of the family can be borne by me and Uncle Thirteen. As for the other children, it's best if they can do as they please. As for Yuqi…"
She looked at Yuqi, her affection overflowing, and said, "I will definitely find her a husband who is of equal social standing and suits her taste. If she suffers even the slightest grievance, then my future as empress will have been in vain."
Shangguan Jin remained silent for a moment, then said, "If that's the case, then Uncle Thirteen's position as Grand Secretary is meaningless."
He was referring to Yanxiu's willingness to marry into the Empress's palace as a sacrifice for her family, precisely to protect the younger generation within the family from constraints and ensure their future freedom in marriage. Yet, despite his immense achievements as the Grand Chancellor of the Great Huan Dynasty, he could not allow his niece Yanxiu to live freely and retire at home.
Yanxiu forced a smile and said, "My situation is different! As a daughter of the clan and a woman of the nation, I must bear the responsibilities I should bear. But our Shangguan family already owes Yuqi something, doesn't it?"
She was alluding to something, and Shangguan Jin also remembered that tragedy from years ago, because he had personally dealt with it. After a moment, he nodded and said, "Indeed, as you say." When his gaze fell on Yuqi again, it held a deeper meaning, and he said, "I only see that this child is connected to 'Binghuang' and also to the person in the cemetery, so I think she might not follow your old path. But if you insist that she be an ordinary girl and live a simple life of husband and wife, with the strength of our Shangguan family, that is still achievable."
The reason for this is that with Yanxiu entering the palace as empress, she has taken on the responsibility of family marriage alliances, and the Shangguan family's position in the court is stable. Therefore, at least during Yanxiu's lifetime, even if Yuqi becomes the head of the Shangguan family, he will no longer have to bear the responsibility of marriage alliances.
Only now did A Qiu finally understand why Shangguan Yuqi was so grateful to Yanxiu.
She not only single-handedly lifted Shangguan Yuqi from the precarious situation of an unknown concubine's daughter, making her the most dazzling jewel in the crown of the Shangguan family, but also genuinely considered her well-being from the bottom of her heart, prioritizing her happiness above all else.
Shangguan Yuqi continued, "I was still young at the time and didn't fully understand the meaning of my aunt and uncle's conversation. I only knew that my aunt's entry into the palace was imminent, and that I needed to work harder to take over her vacant position and shoulder the responsibility for the family."
Then came the grand wedding of the emperor and empress, a spectacle that shook the capital and remained etched in Jianzhang's memory for over a decade. In the years that followed, its impact was only comparable to the funeral of Empress Xining, five years later.
At that time, Shangguan Yuqi had already begun to manage the family's weddings, funerals, and other important matters. All the dowry chests, wedding favors, and other items that Yanxiu brought to the sedan chair were checked and verified by Shangguan Yuqi with Yanxiu the night before to ensure that there were no mistakes.
Actually, it wouldn't matter if there were one more or one less of these things; the palace would never lack supplies. However, Yuqi vaguely felt that she had been nurtured by her aunt until now, and now that her aunt was getting married and leaving home, this might be the last thing she could do for her aunt. Therefore, she studied even harder.
On the other hand, looking at the bustling and lively preparations before her, she also felt a special sense of loneliness.
Over the years in the Shangguan family, Yanxiu was the only one she could truly confide in. Now that she's married, she'll never return to this courtyard. The current splendor and dazzling prosperity are but a fleeting moment. In truth, a daughter's marriage is not much different from a separation by death. Although she can visit in the palace and Yanxiu can return to her parents' home, it will all be under the watchful eyes of many. The carefree days spent together, sharing everything in their private chambers, are gone forever.
On the eve of her wedding, Yanxiu went to bed early, as she needed to get up to dress and do her makeup before dawn the next day. While she was still in the outer room checking the items and the number of guests for the next day, her personal maid, Su Jinlan, suddenly came to report that something was missing from the dressing case and asked Miss Yuqi to check it.
Seeing Su Jinlan's solemn expression, she immediately got up and followed her to the side room to check.
Among the dowry items was a magnificent nanmu wood box, which originally contained needles, thread, shuttles, and other needlework supplies, symbolizing the virtues of a woman's tranquility and chastity. The silver needles and shuttles inside were custom-made in advance from the largest women's workshop in Jianzhang City. However, the two pairs of golden dragon and phoenix scissors that originally stood inside were now reduced to just one.
Everything the newlyweds own was in pairs, including the scissors. Gold scissors, traditionally believed to ward off evil and fright, were the most valuable item in the nanmu wood needlework chest. These two pairs of dragon and phoenix scissors were crafted from pure gold, adorned with intricate and exquisite carvings of dragons and phoenixes. Such craftsmanship was likely unmatched even by the current head of the Shangguan family's dowry, making them a prized possession in the Shangguan family's dowry.
Su Jinlan's solemn expression stemmed from her uncertainty about who had stolen the item. The Shangguan family had always maintained strict discipline, and while they were lenient in managing their subordinates, they still adhered to rules. Even if the young masters showed signs of indulging in frivolous pursuits, it could be considered as a sign of their refined tastes. However, theft within the family was an incident that had not occurred for many years.
Shangguan Yuqi stared at the remaining pair of scissors, the blade of which was engraved with an eight-clawed golden dragon, its scales and whiskers incredibly lifelike. After a long while, she finally made up her mind and said, "No matter what, we must not let it affect my aunt's wedding tomorrow. Everything the newlyweds own must be in pairs. It would be unseemly for people to know that we only have one pair of scissors left. You should take this remaining pair of dragon scissors to my room and not let anyone see it. As for the maid's box, it's okay if we're missing scissors. No one will scrutinize our dowry carefully anyway."
Su Jinlan agreed and immediately tucked the dragon-patterned scissors into her sleeve, hiding them in Shangguan Yuqi's bedroom.
At the time, circumstances demanded expediency, and Shangguan Yuqi had no choice but to handle things this way for the time being, to deal with the immediate crisis first. Since the ceremony was to be held the next day, it was impossible to mobilize everyone now to conduct a thorough search and inspection to find out who the thief was. If there really was a thief within the family, she couldn't help but admire the thief's timing, as it happened precisely when neither of the two previous Shangguan rulers had time to investigate.
The next day, Yanxiu rose at cockcrow, and Yuqi helped her with her dressing and washing. Layer upon layer of new clothes were adorned with floral ornaments, seven-treasure hairpins, tassels, and necklaces. This year was the first year of the reign of Emperor Xiyuan of the Great Huan Dynasty. The new emperor had just ascended the throne, and it was the most prosperous and flourishing period in the 480 years of the Southern Dynasty. The Jianzhang Palace was filled with gold and powder, and the Jinshui River was overflowing with rouge. Even the entertainment venues in the countryside were filled with revelry every night, with lights never going out. The wedding of Empress Xining was the most magnificent event in history, and it was a grand affair of gold and jade, radiating brilliance.
On that day, along the main street of Jianzhang Palace, the wedding procession scattered fragrant flowers, pearls, colorful ingots, and coins like auspicious spring rain in a prosperous era—a final celebratory occasion bestowed upon the Great Huan Dynasty by Heaven. And Yanxiu, adorned in her empress's robes and magnificent crown, became the symbol of this final and supreme peak of prosperity—Empress Xining.
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