Case closed
When Wen Tingyun returned to his old residence in Chang'an, though he was travel-worn, there was a sense of calm and acceptance in his expression. He immediately summoned his two children, Wen Jue and Wen Xiang'er.
Inside the study, everything was as before. "Father, regarding Junior Sister Xuanji..." Wen Jue spoke first, his tone steady, "The arrangements at the Jingzhao Prefecture have been made, and Junior Sister has not suffered in prison. Lord Du, Madam Zheng, and others have also exerted their efforts, and the situation is currently improving. Father, you need not worry too much."
Wen Tingyun nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over his son before settling on his daughter's face. He said slowly, "You have both done very well. My return this time is not because I distrust you, but... there are some things I must face personally."
He paused, his voice low but carrying an undeniable authority: "I have summoned you here today to inform you of something."
He looked at Wen Jue, then at Xiang'er, his eyes resolute: "Once Xuanji is released from prison and her health has recovered, I plan to... take her to Lingnan to live in seclusion."
Upon hearing this, both Wen Jue and Xiang'er were taken aback. Xiang'er blurted out, "Father! You're taking Sister Xuanji to Lingnan? That...that place is far and mountainous..."
Wen Tingyun raised his hand, stopping his daughter from finishing her sentence. His gaze was deep, as if he could see through the candlelight and gaze upon the green mountains and clear waters of Lingnan.
"Jue'er, Xiang'er," his voice carried a rare weariness and relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, "Throughout my life, I've been bound by etiquette and constrained by reputation. I appeared carefree, but in reality, I was cowardly. As for you and your mother... I can say I have a clear conscience. We were a devoted couple, sharing half a lifetime together. Yet, it is precisely this 'clear conscience' that makes me see the 'regrets' of the past more clearly."
He took a deep breath: "Youwei, that child... She's intelligent, pure, and her academic aptitude, even that hidden vulnerability and stubbornness... she's the same kind of person as me. I once thought that pushing her out to find a seemingly smooth ending like Li Yi's was the best thing for her. Now it seems I was completely wrong! That was just my cowardice, and also my true self that I dared not face."
His voice was filled with pain and regret: "If I hadn't backed down time and time again, how could she have been forced into a Taoist temple, and even imprisoned today? Liu Qianqian's example is still fresh in my mind! I can't... I can't stand by and watch her drift alone, repeating the same mistakes!"
Wen Jue remained silent. He had sensed the extraordinary bond between his father and Xuanji earlier than Xiang'er, and he understood his father's resolute decision even better. He said in a deep voice, "Father, Lingnan is humid and hot, quite different from the climate of Chang'an..."
"So what about Lingnan?" Wen Tingyun chuckled lightly, his laughter filled with disdain. "I, Wen Feiqing, have spent half my life in a reputation for arrogance, but have I ever truly cared about such things? All my past concerns were nothing more than... drawing a circle around my head. Lingnan may be far away, but it's a place far removed from this turmoil. It's spring-like there all year round, with lush vegetation—a perfect place to start anew. Youwei needs a truly peaceful place to heal her body and soul, and I, too, am weary of the infighting and strife in Chang'an."
He looked at his two children, his gaze softening and filled with apology: "But this means that you, Jue'er, will have to bear with things at home in Chang'an. Xiang'er is already married and has Jingxiu to look after her, so I can rest assured. You... can you understand your father's heart?"
Wen Xiang'er was already in tears. She rushed to her father's side, grabbed his arm, and choked out, "Father, I understand! I understand everything! As long as you and Sister Xuanji are safe and happy, I... I support you!"
Wen Jue also rose and bowed deeply to his father: "Since Father has made his decision, I will naturally obey. As for everything in Chang'an, with me here, Father need not worry. I only hope that Father and Junior Sister... are well in Lingnan."
Looking at his two children, now grown up and sensible, Wen Tingyun's eyes finally welled up with tears. He reached out and gently patted his son's shoulder, then stroked his daughter's hair.
"Then... I can rest easy."
Outside the window, the night was deep. A difficult yet determined path had clearly unfolded beneath Wen Tingyun's feet. At the end of the path lay the warm sun of Lingnan and a figure waiting for him to return hand in hand.
A month later, after weighing the pros and cons, the emperor made the inevitable decision. His edict affirmed the voices of the literati and literary circles with the words "admirable writing," but noted that "the language may have been harsh." Ultimately, however, he "considered her being a woman and had the nation in her heart, and released her without charge," demonstrating the "benevolence" of the imperial family.
After a brief pause, the emperor added, "Now that his innocence has been proven, he shall be immediately removed from the list of Daoist priests and allowed to return to his status as a free citizen." This brought the turmoil to a conclusion acceptable to all parties.
As for Xuanji, the three months he spent in the Jingzhao Prefecture prison, thanks to Wen Jue's secret arrangements, spared him from torture, but the boundless loneliness and long wait were a form of torture in themselves. However, Xuanji knew that since he was imprisoned and powerless to change external circumstances, he could only look inward.
She remembered many years ago, under the carved beams and painted rafters of the music academy, the little girl who stood on tiptoe trying to steal a pastry. It was Liu Qianqian who stuffed the osmanthus cake into her hand and whispered, "Xuanji, take it." That little bit of sweetness was one of the few warm colors in her gloomy childhood. Later, the light scar on Liu Qianqian's wrist, left from refusing customers, became her initial definition of "fierceness."
She recalled her first visit to the Wen family, when her teacher handed her the "Zhaoming Anthology," his gaze earnest: "The path of learning knows no gender; only diligence and sincerity matter." She remembered her teacher's wife's cup of almond tea and her gentle words of comfort, "Youwei, take your time," soothing her sensitive and anxious heart. She thought of Xiang'er, her lively and charming younger sister; how they would steal loquats together after class, counting stars side by side on summer nights—the brightest colors outside of her heavy studies.
She thought of Li Yi, the top scholar who had once promised her "embracing the moon." The passionate confession under the red candlelight, the "temporary forbearance" when Pei Shi made things difficult for her, the "expedient measure" when Liu Qianqian was wronged—all those loves and hates, trusts and betrayals, left the deepest marks on her heart.
She recalled the wooden plaque in Xianyi Temple that read "Awaiting Instruction on Poetry and Lyrics," Madam Zheng's wise guidance, the splendor of the Dunhuang flying apsaras on her journey to the west, and the vast landscape described in "Journey to the West."
She survived the long days and nights in prison by relying on these flashbacks.
In February of the eleventh year of the Tianqi reign (1621), Xuanji was released, and the turmoil temporarily subsided.
However, the emperor did not let the matter rest. He knew that such slanderous accusations were never baseless; there must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes. He had also skimmed through that book, *Red Star Over China*, and found its writing and insights to be truly excellent. Its concern for the country and its people was no different from what Master Du and Aunt Zheng had said. Such a talented woman had nearly lost her life in prison; if it weren't for the timely intervention of several forces, wouldn't it have chilled the hearts of scholars throughout the land?
"Gao Fu," the emperor said, sitting alone in the Yan Ying Hall, his fingertips lightly tapping the imperial desk, his voice carrying an undeniable authority, "Go and investigate the source of this impeachment. What role did Li Yi play in it?"
"This old servant obeys the decree." The eunuch Gao Fu, who was standing to the side, bowed and accepted the order.
Within days, a secret report was presented to the Emperor. Gao Fu whispered, “Your Majesty, according to our investigation, two of the censors who initially submitted the joint memorial had close ties with Vice Minister Xu of the Ministry of Personnel. And Vice Minister Xu… previously harbored resentment towards Yu Xuanji because of the Liu family matter. Although Chief Clerk Li Yi did not appear directly, the ‘outrageous’ poem quoted in the impeachment memorial, upon investigation, was not entirely from the original version of ‘Red Star Over China.’ It seems to have been altered or imitated. The source… points to Li Yi, and a maid named Shiliu in the Li household.”
Upon hearing this, a cold smile flickered across the Emperor's lips. Just as he suspected. Minister Xu, harboring resentment, sought revenge, and Li Yi, seizing the opportunity, intended to force Yu Xuanji back into his control. This infighting within the inner court, daring to smear the court and exploit the censors' influence for personal gain—this trend must not be allowed to continue!
"Xu Zixian..." The emperor pondered for a moment, "This man is narrow-minded and unfit for important tasks. Find a pretext to send him to a post outside the capital, let him go to Zhangye as a Sima, and temper his character."
"As for Li Yi..." The emperor's gaze deepened, "This young man is indeed meticulous and knows how to leverage resources. However, his vision is somewhat limited, and he is too obsessed with personal desires. Considering his talent as the top scholar, I will have him... concurrently serve as a proofreader, and go to the Hanlin Academy to sort out the archives and documents of the Hexi War three years ago. Those military supplies and ration accounts are the most tedious. Let him calm down and think carefully about what it means to be a subject."
"This servant understands, I will go and convey the decree immediately." Gao Fu bowed and withdrew.
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