Chapter 183 |
Late April.
Qu Dubian finally managed to extricate himself from the enthusiastic farewells of the Northern Frontier soldiers and set off for Yangzhou with Xu Jin.
He had originally intended to visit Qingzhou, Jizhou, and Xianghe County, but given the current pace, he feared it would take a full year to reach his own fiefdom.
So, he temporarily altered his itinerary, heading directly to his fief. He planned to familiarize himself there first before traveling to the southern regions for leisure.
Besides, it wouldn't be right to keep his maternal grandparents waiting too long for a reunion; they were the ones who truly hadn't seen each other for over a decade.
After bidding farewell to Xia Fuyang, Ye Lianyang, Langqing Ersen, and others, Qu Dubian embarked on the road once more.
-
Qu Dubian spent his eighteenth birthday on the journey.
It wasn't as grand as his seventeenth, but Xu Jin still found an inn where he could borrow the kitchen and personally cooked him a bowl of longevity noodles.
The Great Zhou Dynasty was only in its third generation, a mere few decades old. Having taken root and sprouted from the decaying corpse of the previous dynasty, it retained many traces of the old regime.
For instance, when Qu Dubian's late mother, Consort Yun, was posthumously honored as Empress, the court initially followed the previous dynasty's regulation that a posthumously honored empress's son was also considered a legitimate heir. It was only later that Emperor Chongzhao abolished this old rule, allowing Consort Yun to receive the posthumous title of Empress.
Great Zhou had both provinces (zhou) and prefectures (jun). The chief official of a province was called a Provincial Governor (xunfu), while that of a prefecture was called a Prefect (junshou). Although the titles differed, their ranks, powers, and responsibilities were the same.
This naming system was a unique fusion of terms from the previous dynasty and Great Zhou, which later became conventional: single-character names were provinces, double-character names were prefectures.
To avoid the fragmentation and turmoil caused by enfeoffing princes, Qu Dubian's fief was in Yangzhou, but he did not have complete jurisdiction over the entire area. He only enjoyed the manorial revenues and a portion of the taxes from this land.
He could raise a guard force within specified limits but held no military authority. He possessed certain administrative powers; the Yangzhou officialdom needed to consult him on their initiatives.
The carriage slowly entered the city.
A cool breeze whispered.
The temperature felt like a comfortable seventeen or eighteen degrees Celsius.
Qu Dubian, dressed in a red-and-black crossed-collar robe, sat on the front crossbeam of the carriage, driving it himself. Driving wasn't strange; what was strange was that his eyes were blindfolded—
A blind man driving a carriage attracted many onlookers along the way.
A girl selling flowers from a basket by the roadside covered her mouth with a laugh and threw a blossom towards the handsome, blindfolded youth. "What a fine-looking young master! Which family are you from? Tell me your name. This elder sister doesn't mind your condition."
Qu Dubian reached out and caught it precisely. He smiled towards the direction of the voice.
"With my physical shortcoming, I wouldn't want to delay you, elder sister. With your sweet nature and kind heart, you are sure to find a good match."
The flower-selling girl was taken aback for a moment, then her smile blossomed like a flower. She scooped a large handful from her basket and tossed it at Qu Dubian. "Thank you."
The flowers landed on his robe. He spread his hands helplessly. "Elder sister, if you give them all to me, what will you have left to sell?"
"Just take what's given to you!"
The crowd lining the street grew larger. Someone started a trend: after the flower girl threw her blossoms, others began tossing scented pouches, handkerchiefs, hairpins...
The young women laughed merrily, mostly joining in the fun and banter.
Xu Jin said happily, "My grandson is popular wherever he goes."
Ye Xiaoyuan suggested, "Your Highness, perhaps you should come inside to avoid this."
Qu Dubian replied, "This is my territory. Why should I hide?"
He raised an eyebrow with a smile, reached into the carriage, and said, "Umbrella."
Xi Zixing handed out an oil-paper umbrella.
Qu Dubian opened it, shielding himself from the flowers, pouches, handkerchiefs, and other projectiles.
"Now they can't hit my head."
Watching the chibi-style figures tiptoeing to throw flowers was too adorable; he had no intention of going inside.
Xi Zixing chuckled. "Our Prince Yong, upon first arriving at his fief, gets to experience the spectacle of a top scholar parading through the streets on horseback."
People on the bridge above also looked down, curious about the commotion surrounding a single carriage below.
For ten li the market street stretches unbroken, / On the Bridge under the Moon I watch the immortals go by. / It is only in Yangzhou that one would choose to die, / With the Chan-zhi Mountain's grave-sites bathed in a good glow[1].
The languid youth leaned against the edge of the carriage, umbrella in hand, as it slowly traversed the bustling street. The hem of his robe was already steeped in the fragrance of flowers.
-
Yangzhou prospered due to the Grand Canal, its bustle and prosperity second only to the capital.
Yet, the location of Qu Dubian's mansion in Yangzhou was quite tranquil. The carriage stopped before the Prince Yong Residence.
They alighted. A plaque hung above the main gate, the three gilded characters 'Prince Yong Residence' written with imposing grandeur, carrying a hint of martial vigor.
The servants outside the residence were the ones from Qu Dubian's prince's mansion in the capital, who had been transferred here. One who had been secretly dozing off suddenly became wide awake upon seeing the people and the dog descending from the carriage. He swiftly shouted into the compound, "Prince Yong has returned!"
He himself then scurried over obsequiously: "Your Highness! Steward Ye!" His gaze lingered on Xu Jin for a moment before he cleverly added, "Old Marquis! My lord, you look so young!"
Ye Xiaoyuan said, "What a smooth talker."
Xi Zixing and Yi Shier followed behind.
Chatting and laughing, they entered. Not long after settling in the main hall, Consort Xuan, Lady Guo, and Wu Siwan all arrived.
Qu Dubian said, "Mother."
Consort Xuan smiled warmly and took his hand. "Mm. Did you enjoy the journey?"
Qu Dubian nodded. "Immensely."
He looked towards his grandfather and grandmother. They stood three or four meters apart, actually speechless upon seeing each other.
Qu Dubian was eighteen this year. When he was two and a half, his grandfather left for the border and stayed there for sixteen years.
His grandfather and grandmother had not seen each other for sixteen years. Their thoughts, longings, memories, and recollections had all gradually faded with the passage of time.
And their last meeting, sixteen years ago, had lasted only half a month.
Having lived more than half their lives, their time together had been scarce, their separations many.
Qu Dubian walked to Xu Jin's side and discreetly poked him in the back.
As if snapping out of a trance, Xu Jin took a few steps to stand before Wu Siwan. Sixteen years ago, their hair was still mixed with black and white; now it was completely white.
Xu Jin wiped his eye and sighed with a laugh. "Ah, I really didn't want to lose face in front of the child."
Wu Siwan pinched his palm hard, turned her face away, and said something seemingly unrelated: "The stones you polished and sent me every year were so heavy. They must have been quite inconvenient to bring this time."
Qu Dubian silently waved his hand and, along with Consort Xuan and the others, tiptoed out.
Leaving the space here to his grandfather and grandmother alone.
They surely had much to say to each other.
-
Qu Dubian temporarily settled into his Prince Yong residence in Yangzhou.
The Provincial Governor, Prefect, and other officials of Yangzhou came to pay their respects. All official social engagements and interactions were handed over to the former top scholar, now the Prince Yong Residence's Chief Clerk, Mr. Xi Zixing.
He navigated these waters with ease, effortlessly handling matters like managing manorial revenues and taxes, auditing accounts, and rectifying malpractices.
Here, Qu Dubian began to live a truly leisurely and carefree life.
Consort Xuan and Lady Guo often went out in male disguise. Qu Dubian frequently saw his mother wearing various styles of men's clothing, or exotic women's attire popular in Yangzhou, heading out to the streets, gradually venturing further down the path of cosplay.
When they went out for serious purposes, it was to the orphanage and the women's clinic.
The two of them provided support to these places in Yangzhou, funding the upbringing of children in the orphanage, investing in medicine for the women's clinic, and seeking female doctors to give lectures there.
It is said that shortly after arriving in Yangzhou, she began doing this, treating it almost as a half-career of her own.
Within the palace walls, they were the uniform 'consorts' raised in the rear court. Away from the palace, they transformed into flowers of various forms, stretching their postures freely—some sharp, others radiant.
Xuanfei even went undercover to work as a female instructor at a local martial arts school, not as a resident master, but going once every three days was sufficient.
Qu Dubian made a development plan chart for the orphanage. Simply providing funds wasn't enough. Since they were doing charity, they needed a detailed plan; otherwise, a good deed could turn into an opportunity for the unscrupulous to line their own pockets.
Her maternal grandparents were now completely at leisure, often going out for strolls—
They always took a detour from the back gate of the princely residence to avoid being recognized.
Otherwise, hearing greetings of 'Greetings, Marquis!' everywhere would spoil the fun, wouldn't it?
Yi Shier still occasionally went out to handle matters related to the dark web.
Qu Dubian, meanwhile, got up early every day to walk his dogs and grand-dogs. Every few days, he would drag Xi Zixing along to go fishing.
-
In July,
a major event occurred in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The Fourth Prince was officially established as the Crown Prince, becoming the Crown Prince of Great Zhou.
All officials congratulated him, and the whole realm celebrated. Qu Dubian also wrote a letter and sent congratulatory gifts.
It was also from this day that he began to let his eyesight show signs of improvement.
-
The Capital.
The Imperial Palace.
The Fourth Prince had long since moved from his princely residence to the Eastern Warm Chamber next to the Zichen Hall.
Returning from the investiture ceremony, everyone he passed addressed him, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
The Fourth Prince, dressed in the noble and ornate black-and-gold Crown Prince robes, entered the somewhat dim Eastern Warm Chamber.
The Eastern Warm Chamber was much more cramped and narrow than his princely residence, and the windows didn't let in much light. A large pile of books and scrolls were stacked on the desk, forming a small mountain.
The Fourth Prince had been slightly plump since childhood, with large eyes that always seemed half-drooped, as if not fully awake.
His brow carried a scholarly air, tinged with a faint sense of aloofness that kept others at a distance.
However, now, he no longer looked slightly plump; he had lost some weight recently.
Entering the chamber, a palace attendant said softly, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the congratulatory gift from the Prince of Yong has arrived, along with a letter. Would you like to read it?"
Only then did the Fourth Prince seem to show a bit of liveliness. "Bring it quickly."
The attendant was also arranged by Emperor Chongzhao to be by his side. All the attendants the Fourth Prince was accustomed to in his princely residence had been replaced. His every move, his every word and action, were all under the emperor's watchful eye.
The Fourth Prince didn't care. He didn't become constrained by this surveillance. Apart from being forced to attend lessons, he slept when tired, ate when hungry, and simply ignored reprimands the rest of the time.
Living like a somewhat disobedient puppet.
He washed his hands and eagerly unfolded the letter his younger brother had sent him:
"Fourth Brother, I hope this letter finds you well. I heard that you have ascended to the position of Crown Prince. I imagine many around you are offering congratulations. Knowing your temperament, I won't add to the congratulations. I only hope that during your leisure moments, you can take more short rests."
The corner of the Fourth Prince's mouth lifted.
"I've sent you some Yangzhou specialties and some oddities I bought along my journey. Fourth Brother, remember to unpack them. Even if you don't play with them, the process of unwrapping can be very joyful and relaxing." At the end was a little figure with hands on hips giving a victory sign.
The Fourth Prince couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Looking at that vivid little figure, he knew it was his letter.
Little Seven's ability to write blindly is quite good. After all, he practiced martial arts since childhood. Even without sight, his sense of direction and placement is accurate.
He turned the page.
"...The snowy scenery in the northern border of Great Zhou is extremely beautiful (both Liuliu and Banban say so), but it's especially cold. I was always worried on the road that Yidianbai's bottom might freeze when he does his business."
The Fourth Prince facepalmed.
Little Seven really writes about everything.
The next two or three pages were all ramblings about the trivialities of his daily life.
"In Yangzhou, there is an elderly man in his seventies, seemingly a craftsman who worked for the imperial family in the previous dynasty. He is very skilled at painting on porcelain. Consort Yi enjoys sketching on paper. One day I will send a porcelain painting; please deliver it for me..."
The Fourth Prince read as if he were experiencing it all himself. He read very slowly, pondering each sentence in his mind, imagining the scenes.
After finishing, he felt much more relaxed.
He had someone grind ink and wrote a reply to his younger brother.
-
The Eastern Depot.
The Inner Prison.
The innermost cell was isolated separately.
The lamps and candles inside burned day after day, except when the cell's occupant was sleeping.
The cell where the Fifth Prince resided was connected to the cell on the other side of the wall.
The cell on the left side of the wall was extremely simple. The Fifth Prince only stayed there when dealing with palace attendants who came for occasional inspections. Usually, he lived next door.
A low-key yet comfortable prison cell.
Qu Dubian had asked Wen Xiaochun to look after the Fifth Prince. Wen Xiaochun directly moved everything from the Fifth Prince's residence bedroom here, arranging it inside according to the original layout.
After all, what one is used to is most comfortable.
Two additional storage shelves were added to hold the strange things Qu Dubian privately sent, for the Fifth Prince to identify, select, and categorize.
This time, when Qu Dubian sent things to the Fourth Prince, he didn't forget his Fifth Brother either.
Of course, Xiaochun also received a share.
The Fifth Prince looked at the small pile of strange objects in the cell and sighed softly.
He knew Little Seven was worried he might take his own life, but there was no need to send so many...
Ah.
The Fifth Prince, holding a lit candle close, resignedly crouched down to begin a new round of gift-unwrapping.
-
Zichen Hall.
After winter, Emperor Chongzhao's health declined further, and he spent longer periods lying in bed.
Even before the Xiang River flood, his health hadn't been great. Physician Yang had told him to quit strong, cold tea and forbade him from staying up late straining his mind.
Emperor Chongzhao abstained for a while, but the events of the past two years came one after another, causing frequent mental shocks—great sorrows and rages, all things to be avoided.
Furthermore, he was accustomed to reviewing memorials himself. Even those pre-screened by the three Grand Secretaries, Fang and the others, he would spot-check whenever he had time.
Later, he started drinking strong tea again, prematurely exhausting his spirit.
Therefore, he followed the court officials' wishes and established the Fourth Prince as the Crown Prince.
After all, there was no point in holding on any longer; he was the only viable candidate left for the throne. Rather than delay, it was better to settle it early to reassure the state.
He had recalled Prince Ming from the border precisely to have him oversee the court—
As an outsider, the worse his health became, the less he could trust others.
Even the three Grand Secretaries, including Fang Taifu, were no exception.
"You must devote more attention to court affairs. In all matters, inquire one more time. Old Fourth is intelligent, but his laziness is too great," Emperor Chongzhao leaned against the bed.
Prince Ming: "The Fourth Prince's temperament has been like that since childhood. Even if Your Majesty wishes to make him more diligent, you cannot rush it."
Emperor Chongzhao was silent for a moment. He glanced at his own hands, which were far from old, but internal weakness had caused his hair to gray quickly. When he looked in the mirror, he felt like a true old man.
"I don't know how many more years I can hold on."
He hadn't expected earlier that it would be the Fourth Prince who would become Crown Prince in the end. Now he wanted to make up for all the lessons the Fourth Prince had missed—the art of imperial balance, the techniques of controlling subordinates, and so on—and could only cram them into his mind as quickly as possible.
Prince Ming comforted him, saying, "That won't happen. Now that the Crown Prince is established, what Your Majesty needs to do is to recuperate well and nurture the Fourth Prince to become a qualified heir apparent."
Emperor Chongzhao changed the subject. "Since Old Fourth has become the Crown Prince, Consort Yi's rank could appropriately be raised."
Prince Ming replied, "The mother of the Crown Prince is worthy of the rank of Imperial Consort."
Emperor Chongzhao nodded. "Have Old Fourth go and tell her."
-
The Fourth Prince went to Fu'an Palace.
Inside Fu'an Palace, everything remained as before. The Fourth Prince rarely visited; paying respects three or four times a month was considered frequent.
He knew his mother shared his temperament—she liked having her own independent space, to be quiet within it.
Consort Yi was still in her small prayer room.
Incense smoke curled upwards, serene and quiet.
She knelt on a prayer cushion, softly reciting scriptures.
After the Fourth Prince arrived, he didn't greet her but simply knelt on the cushion beside Consort Yi, waiting for her to finish her prayers.
After roughly a quarter of an hour, Consort Yi finally opened her eyes. "You've come."
She turned her head, looking over the Crown Prince's robes on the Fourth Prince, the four-clawed golden dragon imposing and majestic.
Consort Yi reached out, touched his robes for a moment, and let out a faint sigh.
"Since you are wearing these robes, you must shoulder the responsibility."
"Wearing these robes was not my wish."
Moreover, the Fourth Prince saw things clearly—his father only wanted him to be a ruler who maintains the existing order.
The Great Zhou was now stable, no longer facing threats from two fronts. The Northern Frontier Protectorate was established, Xu Tingfeng guarded Zhennan Pass, and there were also assisting ministers and Imperial Uncle Ming in the court. As long as one wasn't a fool and practiced frugality, one could manage to be a ruler who maintains the status quo.
The Fourth Prince said, "I feel like I can't breathe out there."
Consort Yi said, "When you feel you can't breathe, find a spiritual anchor; it helps a great deal." She looked towards the Buddhist shrine. "But what can be done? When fate descends upon your head, you cannot avoid it; you can only catch it."
The Fourth Prince followed her gaze upward.
This upward-looking perspective—he had seen it countless times as a child, often falling asleep right here.
"Mother, I don't think I've ever asked—why do you believe in Buddhism? Is it because of your maternal family?"
In truth, he had no maternal grandparents. He had heard that before his mother entered the palace, her family had all been killed by Nanning soldiers who invaded the Great Zhou border.
Perhaps he had asked before, but it was so long ago he had forgotten.
Consort Yi nodded. "My family perished in flames. The Buddha will grant them peace. Did you come today only to rest here with your mother, or is there something else?"
The Fourth Prince said, "His Majesty wishes to raise your rank, Mother, to confer the title of Imperial Consort. He sent me to ask for your thoughts."
In truth, his coming to ask was just a formality.
If Consort Yi wished to change her honorary title, she could tell him, and he would relay it to Emperor Chongzhao to be changed during the conferment ceremony.
Consort Yi said, "As long as I don't have to move locations and it's not too taxing, it's fine. I'll discuss with the Empress; it's best if the conferment ceremony can be simplified as much as possible."
Her reaction was within the Fourth Prince's expectations.
"Then I will inform Eunuch Yu upon my return," the Fourth Prince stood up to take his leave. "Your son will depart first."
Consort Yi said, "Take care on your way."
As the Fourth Prince reached the doorway, an illusion-like, faint, almost imperceptible laugh seemed to drift from behind him.
"..." The Fourth Prince stopped and looked back.
The small prayer room was darker inside than outside. The curling incense smoke rose into the air, softly dispersing, resembling a beast's face gradually turning ferocious.
Consort Yi still had her back to him, kneeling on the prayer cushion.
The Fourth Prince asked hesitantly, "Mother?"
Consort Yi responded, "Hmm? What is it? Did you remember something else?"
The Fourth Prince said, "No, I must have misheard."
-
Yangzhou.
Qu Dubian received the Fourth Prince's reply.
His fourth brother was very satisfied with the gift he had sent and intended to enjoy it slowly.
He also wrote about his painful current situation of being forced to study and the various ways he slacked off and rested.
Feigning illness to avoid work was the least effective method, because Physician Yang was constantly by his father's side. The moment he pretended to faint or feel unwell, Physician Yang would be there to examine him the next second.
"...Fortunately, Physician Yang occasionally lets me off the hook, saying I'm exhausted and allowing me to rest for half a day. Little Seven, your fourth brother really wishes he could tie his bed to himself."
The entire letter was filled with the agonizing aura of an overworked office drone.
Qu Dubian: "How pitiful."
After reading it, Ye Xiaoyuan also said, "How pitiful."
Qu Dubian: "But then, fourth brother is probably gradually accepting it. Otherwise, given his personality, he would absolutely refuse to get up if he lay down in the Zichen Hall."
The old man's high-pressure tactics aren't very effective on fourth brother; he adjusts things to a level he can barely tolerate.
He set the letter aside and put it away.
Ye Xiaoyuan said, "Along with the Fourth Prince's letter, new medicine from Physician Yang also arrived."
Qu Dubian: "The night scenery outside is quite nice today. I'm going out for a stroll."
He immediately went out and knocked on the room next door. "Xi Zixing, you're not asleep, are you? Come out for a walk."
"..."
There was a rustling sound from inside the room, and Xi Zixing came out with his clothes draped over his shoulders. "Didn't you just take a walk after dinner?"
Qu Dubian motioned with his mouth.
Xi Zixing understood. "Alright then."
The two walked away side by side. Inside the room, Ye Xiaoyuan said helplessly, "This batch is sweet, only a little bitter."
-
Since their last correspondence, the two had begun writing letters frequently.
They were all about trivial daily matters.
Qu Dubian roughly understood that his fourth brother wanted to use this method to alleviate the subtle pressure from those around him.
By the golden autumn of the ninth month.
The Fourth Prince's position as Crown Prince was gradually stabilizing.
Just as Qu Dubian was planning to travel to Zhennan Pass or the Xianghe Three Prefectures for leisure, news arrived from the capital—
Zhang Fanming, the Director of the Astrological Bureau, was dead.
Over a decade ago, after his son was identified as a Northern Frontier spy and executed by Xu Jin, he had holed up at home and never went out. According to his household servants, all these years, while he appeared quiet, he might have long been insane.
He held the official title of Director, but after his niece Zhang Chansi completely seized the actual power, he remained idle at home, living alone in a separate courtyard.
When Qu Dubian was young, he strongly suspected that Zhang Fanming had colluded with others to frame Consort Yun using public opinion and rumors.
When he was seven, because the biological mother of Princess Sihe was pregnant with her, palace rumors started again. He closely watched the rear palace to find the source of the rumors, but found nothing.
Later, twelve years passed. So many people and events, winds and clouds changed; some died, some left, some were deposed. The longer time passed, the fainter the clues became, and past events grew increasingly unclear.
And during all this time, Zhang Fanming had remained inactive.
Qu Dubian had reflected on whether his earlier inferences were mistaken. Even because of his uncle's leg injury, he had suspected the old man of perhaps intentionally allowing the rumors to flourish back then to suppress the Xu family.
But now, Zhang Fanming was dead?
Qu Dubian: "How did he die?"
Yi Shier reported, "The message says he went out to drink water at night, passed by the well in the courtyard, fell in, and drowned. More specific details are only known to Zhang Chansi, who is overseeing his funeral and escorting his coffin back to his hometown."
Zhang Chansi was the Deputy Director fond of mathematics whom Qu Dubian had befriended as a child, but apart from their teacher-student bond over solving problems, they had little interaction in other aspects of life.
Qu Dubian: "Escorting the coffin back to his hometown... where is Zhang Fanming's hometown?"
Yi Shier: "Right here in Yangzhou. When they arrive, Your Highness might inquire."