persuade
Li Yunrui only learned about the matter of praying for blessings on behalf of Heaven the next morning. He was overjoyed, not because the act itself was particularly glorious, but because his father, the Emperor, had finally entrusted him with the task. The rumors of his lukewarm attitude towards him from the previous days were now completely dispelled. Lin Xiaomei helped Li Yunrui dress, and seeing the smile on his face, she smiled as well. "I haven't been to the Wei River prayer ceremony myself, but I've heard Father mention it. The suburban sacrifice to the Heavenly Emperor, with its magnificent view of the mountains and rivers, is truly spectacular. Your being entrusted with this important task today shows that His Majesty values you."
"I know, I'll prepare well these next few days, but I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you again."
"It's alright. Before I married you, I knew you wouldn't be able to stay with me at home every day, so I don't blame you." Then, Lin Xiaomei took out a sachet and hung it around Li Yunrui's waist. "This sachet is one I made; it's embroidered with your favorite green bamboo. Alright, hurry up! Don't keep Lord Zhang from the Ministry of Rites waiting too long; Lord Zhang is a veteran minister of the founding of the dynasty."
Li Yunrui was very satisfied with Lin Xiaomei's understanding and consideration for the bigger picture. Although their marriage was arranged by their parents and they were not in love, as a wife, they could only act as a respectful and harmonious couple. However, as the Crown Princess, Lin Xiaomei had indeed done an excellent job and would surely become a virtuous empress in the future.
After tidying up, Li Yunrui went out. Outside the mansion, Zhang Mobai's father was waiting for him. "Your Highness," Zhang Ruoming greeted him, but Li Yunrui quickly helped him up. "Elder Zhang, you are the elder, I am the junior. There's no need for formalities." Li Yunrui wanted to cultivate good relations with these senior officials to consolidate his power in the court.
Zhang Ruoming gently pushed Li Yunrui aside, then bowed and said, "Your Highness, you are the ruler, and I am your subject. You must accept this courtesy." He then rose and lifted the curtain for Li Yunrui. "Your Highness, please!" Li Yunrui looked at Zhang Ruoming and said, "Old Zhang is a founding hero; there are some things you don't need to pretend you don't understand with me."
Seeing Li Yunrui board the carriage, Zhang Ruoming followed. After sitting down, he took a breath and said, "The Crown Prince is a wise man; he knows what he should and shouldn't do. His Majesty detests nothing more than factionalism and cronyism. This old minister is merely trying to become someone His Majesty doesn't dislike, in order to save his life. And you should also know that the innocent are innocent, and the guilty are guilty. As long as you remain upright and treat the people well, even if you don't say it, many people in the court and the countryside will support you."
Seeing that Li Yunrui remained silent, Zhang Ruoming closed his eyes and then said, "The Ministry of Rites has made all the necessary preparations, but I still have to ask, are you going to the Ministry of Rites to personally check everything again, or are you going directly to the Wei River to see the scene? It's the first time, so you should always pay attention."
"Thank you for your advice, Elder Zhang. Let's go to the Ministry of Rites then!"
Just then, Xu Chang'an passed by Li Yunrui's carriage. Xu Chang'an lifted the carriage curtain and asked, "Is the Crown Prince entering the palace at this hour?"
"Your Excellency, the Crown Prince traveled with Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites."
"That old fox Zhang Ruoming, he's usually as cunning as a fox, keeping his distance from these princes as much as possible. Why is he traveling with the Crown Prince today?" Xu Chang'an leaned against the window for a moment, then said, "Turn around and go to Prince Cheng's residence."
“I know about this,” Li Yunheng said, sitting in the main hall and looking at Xu Chang’an sitting beside him. “A few days ago, Father Emperor ordered the Crown Prince to pray for blessings on behalf of Heaven, and he sent Eunuch Feng to announce the decree early this morning.”
"Then Your Highness, aren't you worried?" Seeing Xu Chang'an's somewhat anxious expression, Li Yunheng smiled. "So, Xu Chang'an, even Xu Tejin has his moments of impatience. Don't worry, I have a way. Tell me, shouldn't we call over my third brother for a try?" Xu Chang'an suddenly looked up at Li Yunheng, somewhat shocked. "But... but, the Third Prince..."
"I know he doesn't care about these things. But there must be something in this world that he cares about!"
Li Yunrui and Zhang Ruoming went to the Ministry of Rites. Zhang Ruoming then pointed to the busy people and said, “Offering means to present; providing means to offer food and drink. The offerings are incense, flowers, lamps, water, and fruit. The incense is sandalwood from the South River; the flowers are locust blossoms from the century-old locust tree at the Niangniang Temple in Yaojiashan, Jinxi; the lamps were personally lit yesterday by the Empress Dowager and her concubines; the water was drawn from the source of the Wei River and delivered after three days of chanting by the monks; the fruit was freshly picked this morning, still covered in morning dew. Do you have any other questions?”
After checking everything, Li Yunrui nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Elder Zhang. Yunrui thanks you in advance."
Zhang Ruoming waved his hand, "You'd better not, this old minister can't accept such thanks. These are all necessary procedures, and there's no need to thank me. The Ministry of Rites' list of offerings is here, with the exact time for offering and incense burning clearly written down." Li Yunrui picked up the list, looked it over carefully, and then asked, "When will the ceremony be held?"
"Seven quarters before sunrise tomorrow"
Li Yunrui didn't sleep a wink that night. Lin Xiaomei was awakened by the candlelight in the room. Seeing Li Yunrui still sitting at his desk, she sat up and asked, "Your Highness, aren't you going to rest? It's so late now, and you have to get up early tomorrow." Li Yunrui turned his head to look into the room and smiled, "You should go to sleep! I can't sleep, so I'll just sit here for a while."
Lin Xiaomei took a robe and draped it over herself, then got out of bed and walked over, saying, "Then why don't I keep you company for a while? A few words between us will make the night feel less long." Lin Xiaomei lit a few more candles and placed them on the table. "To be honest," she continued, "I don't know Your Highness very well, so... if I say anything wrong or offend you, please don't take it to heart."
Li Yunrui was quite surprised. In all his years, few people had ever come to him for a heart-to-heart talk. He had always been that high and mighty prince, and the people he encountered were either indifferent like Tang Feng or obsequious court officials. Lin Xiaomei was the first one who could truly sit down and have a heart-to-heart with him. Li Yunrui shook his head. "I've always cared about my father's feelings, so I've tried my best to please him. But I'm not the fourth prince; I don't have that silver tongue. I know that in court, sometimes all your efforts are no match for a silver tongue. But I've always believed that as long as I work hard enough, I'll ultimately win."
Lin Xiaomei poured Li Yunrui a glass of water and placed it in front of him. "Your Highness," she said, "there is something I am not sure if I should say. You will inherit the throne in the future, so please go ahead and do your best. Don't be timid. If you only try to please others, people will say that you are weak and incompetent. There are many talented people in Yanyun. You can communicate with them more! I think Tang Sicheng, who came to your residence the other day, was quite good."
"You think so too? I've known him since we were at Lishan Academy. Don't let his lazy and unreliable demeanor fool you; when it comes to being serious, he's incredibly dependable." Thinking back to Tang Feng's return from the Qiang and Hu tribes, Li Yunrui was still quite pleased, certain that she hadn't misjudged him. "But... Tang Feng's temperament is too fiery; perhaps I can't handle him."
"I've heard that he seems to have gone to Shanghan, but have you seriously considered the principle of playing hard to get?"
So I let him go.
“You were forced into this situation. If you truly wanted to play hard to get, you should have found a way to restrain him when he returns, instead of complaining here.” Lin Xiaomei finished speaking and, seeing that Li Yunrui didn't reply, assumed she had overreacted and quickly stood up. “Your Highness, I apologize… I… I went a bit too far. I was impolite; please punish me.” Looking at Lin Xiaomei kneeling on the ground, Li Yunrui helped her up. “No one has ever spoken so frankly to me before. Although I am the Crown Prince, I am not foolish; I know what it means to hear honest advice, even if it's unpleasant. Get up! Talking with you makes me feel much better. You're right; with you here, this long night doesn't seem so unbearable. Alright, go to sleep!”
Seven quarters before sunrise the next day, before the night had even faded, preparations for the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven had already begun. The jade carriage stopped early in the morning at the gate of the Crown Prince's residence, waiting for Li Yunrui to emerge. Each of the servants standing in front held a tablet of divination. No eating or drinking was permitted before the ceremony. After Lin Xiaomei had Li Yunrui wash and dressed, she helped him put on his auspicious robes. "Your Highness, don't be nervous."
Li Yunrui nodded and went out. Reaching the Wei River, he placed the scepter on the altar, and the elaborate nine-part ritual began. "Welcome the gods!" With Zhang Ruoming's shout, the brazier in the southeast corner of the altar was lit, and a calf was burned to welcome the gods' arrival with its aroma.
"Sing!" The officials of the Ministry of Rites began chanting the "Burning Firewood to Welcome the Emperor God," accompanied by the harmonious sounds of bells and drums. Li Yunrui slowly ascended the altar to the accompaniment of this music, burning incense and performing the kowtow before the Heavenly Emperor and his ancestors. He then descended from the altar, picked up the sacrificial cloth, ascended again, and placed the cloth and azure jade tablet before the divine tablet.
As the music for the sacrificial ceremony began, Zhang Ruoming, holding a soup pot, poured hot soup over the calf. Then, Li Yunrui accepted the libation offered by the official in charge of offerings, paying homage to Heaven and Earth above, and to his ancestors below.
The prayer ceremony was drawing to a close. Li Yunheng looked at Li Yunrui, who was offering prayers to their ancestors, and snorted coldly before asking, "Third Brother, how did you feel up there?"
"The higher you climb, the colder it gets."
"I don't think so. I feel great looking down on all living beings, with the whole world under my control! Don't you even want that?" Li Yunye looked at Li Yunheng's appearance and was about to turn and leave, but Li Yunheng grabbed him. "Third brother, now that I'm fighting fiercely with the eldest brother, aren't you envious?"
"Fourth brother, if you like this throne, go ahead and snatch it. I'm not interested in it."
Seeing Li Yunye leave, Li Yunheng shrugged. "It's good that you're not interested, but I don't intend to let you off the hook either. We haven't even gathered enough people to bring down Li Yunrui yet! Once I've stirred up some trouble for you and ruined your years of peace and happiness, you won't be so indifferent anymore."
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