Chapter 14: Laoshi
Today's morning court was exceptionally brief.
In the curtain of darkness the night before, when everyone been preparing to lock their doors, the three of Yan Gaoge, Wen Congyun, and Nie Tianzong, carrying the imperial edict, led forces to, one after another, surround the residences of a number of court officials. The three of them had been Song Juguang's personal guards before, and had no relatives nor friends in the court, and as a result, weren't sentimental in the slightest. Seizing and imprisoning all happened at once.
If it had been done another time, the next day's court would definitely have the ministers whom those whose houses were searched and whose possessions were confiscated had made friends with pleading for leniency. But, perhaps, the matter of someone being killed by beating on that day of ascension was still fresh in their minds; this time, there actually wasn't anyone who dared to express an opinion.
"Since no one has any matters to report, then let court end early."
Usually, even if there wasn't anyone with a matter to report, Jiang Changbai would still have to call on a couple important ministers to ask some things. But today, she'd changed completely from the norm, as if, seeing these ministers, she was troubled, and only wanted to end court early. As a result, when the sound of the loud cries of "long live" ended, only Xie Qianbing and Song Juguang remained.
Xun Zhu said deferentially, "Bixia is waiting for you both in the Shengru Palace."
Actually, the three of them could be considered as having been acquainted a long while, and the difference between their statuses wasn't vast either. Yet Xun Zhu still acted as if she herself were a palace maid who couldn't be more common, and her behaviour and bearing was no different from before at all. But for the job of following by the Emperor's own side, others couldn't receive it even if they asked.
Xie Qianbing didn't have any idea what matter Jiang Changbai had called her for this time. Even if they had been incredibly close before, after Jiang Changbai had ascended the throne, when the two met, they would only discuss matters of the state; unconsciously, the distance between them had become a bit further than before. Now, having encountered Jiang Changbai's sudden summons, and it being just luckily when there had been people whose houses searched and their possessions had been confiscated, Xie Qianbing's mind couldn't help but be somewhat apprehensive.
But, by contrast, Song Juguang had relaxed a great deal, and, holding that folding fan of hers, she was incredibly leisurely. Those who didn't know would assume she hadn't entered the palace, but rather returned to her own home. Perhaps, to Song Juguang, entering the palace and returning home had no difference.
Xie Qianbing suddenly felt that she herself probably ought to ask Song Juguang; looking at her attitude, she definitely knew something before. It was just that before her words could reach her lips, they turned a circle, and she couldn't speak them. When she'd been young, Xie Qianbing had naturally felt that she was much more intelligent than Song Juguang; now, having thought of wanting to question her, she felt her own face burn like a fire.
But the distance between the front palace and the rear palace wasn't far at all; before Xie Qianbing could speak, the three had arrived.
"A Guang, Qianbing, you've arrived!" Jiang Changbai called out. In less than half an incense's time, Jiang Changbai had changed from the bright yellow court dress into a plain, casual dress. Her hair was gathered high on her head, and she had the appearance of a dignified, relaxed young minister. If there wasn't anyone calling attention to it, others wouldn't have been able to tell she was the Emperor.
Xie Qianbing didn't understand, and asked, "Bixia, this is?"
With rapid steps, Jiang Changbai came before them, and dropped a token into Xie Qianbing's hand. Xie Qianbing only saw a jet-black shadow flying towards her, and she hurriedly caught it. But, looking at it carefully, she saw the four characters of "as if We were here" carved on it, and couldn't help but feel a cill run down her spine, the palm of the hand that was holding the token couldn't help but exude some sweat.
"I was just about to explain it to you," Jiang Changbai said, looking at Xie Qianbing. "In a bit, A Guang and I are going to go out; when I'm not here, you'll temporarily assume full control of matters of the state."
"This…this minister…" Xie Qianbing, in her daze, doubted whether or not she herself was having a dream in sleep and hadn't woken from it, and hurried to kneel and kowtow, to thank her for her favour. But Jiang Changbai naturally wouldn't give her that opportunity, and extended a hand to raise her up.
"I said early on that things between us don't need to be this reserved; we'll be gone for two days at most. Tomorrow, during mourning court, just say that I've fallen ill, and suspend it once. Don't disappoint me."
Xie Qianbing's voice shook slightly. "Yes!"
Song Juguang, seeing that this entrustment was done, spoke. "Bixia, this minister had already called people to prepare two fine steeds; at this moment, they're waiting at the West Gate."
Jiang Changbai nodded, just about to depart with Song Juguang, when Xun Zhu, in rare fashion, took the initiative to speak. "Bixia, you aren't taking this servant along with you?"
"You remain in the Palace as well," Jiang Changbai waved her hand, "there are some shows which Qianbing can't act out on her own."
The two horses sped along the public road. Although Jiang Changbai wasn't as skillful in martial arts, she was categorically not delicate in body, and riding a horse was nothing difficult. Adding on the fact that the horses which Song Juguang had prepared were truly first class, in barely half a day, they made the greater half of the journey.
The sound of hoofbeats trammeling the dirt road let out a sharp, clear sound; the midday sunlight spilled across the road, plating the people and horses with a layer of golden light. Suddenly, Song Juguang tugged at the reins, and stopped at the crossing. "Xiaojie, ahead is Mount Tongshan. The day is at its hottest; it would be better for us to rest for a while at the foot of the mountain and then ascend it."
Jiang Changbai stopped as well, and looked in the direction Song Juguang was pointing. That mountain wasn't high at all, merely made of tier after tier, almost entirely covered by thick vegetation. She thought for a moment, and then shook her head, and said, "No need, we'll go quickly and return quickly, so as to avoid making things difficult for Qianbing at home."
Song Juguang, hearing this, didn't speak any more, and rode the horse in the direction of the mountain. Jiang Changbai also tapped her whip against the horse's flank, following after Song Juguang's horse.
In the end, they passed by that village. The village wasn't large, but by the banner at the side of the road, there was a stooped old women with greying temples, who called out that she were selling tea. The two were originally only passing by, but in the end, they still turned back. "No need to keep calling," Song Juguang said, setting down a piece of loose silver.
Jiang Changbai naturally also turned back; it was just that she didn't drink any tea, only looking closely at that old woman. Unexpectedly, after setting the cup of tea down, Song Juguang was tugged at by the old woman, hearing her ask, "Dear guests, are you intending to go up Mount Tongshan?"
"If we are, or if we aren't, then what?" Jiang Changbai dismounted the horse, walking before that old woman as she asked.
"If you aren't, then good; if you are, this aged one suggests that you wait for a more auspicious time," the old woman said, gesturing with her hands. "Recently, this Mount Tongshan hasn't been too peaceful. Our village's hunters went up the mountain three days ago, and they haven't been seen returning by now; I'd say that everything points towards disaster."
Hearing this, Jiang Changbai's mind became tense, and she exhaled, saying, "A Guang, let's go."
"Alright." Song Juguang smiled, setting the teacup on the table. At the end, she didn't forget to turn her head and say to that old woman, "Thanks for your warning; it's just that we still have pressing matters, and we'll take leave." So, the two leapt onto their horses, and with a barrage of hoofbeats, that roadside once more only had that pole with the banner, and a single old woman selling tea.
But Jiang Changbai had taken note of that old woman's words, and her expression showed concern. "A Guang, are you certain?"
Song Juguang didn't give it any mind, only smiling. "This minister hasn't met any evil monsters before; I can definitely guarantee you'll safely descend the mountain."
"Then let's go a bit faster; our teacher doesn't know any martial arts, and I fear—" As she spoke, Jiang Changbai squeezed the horse's torso, and, being in pain, the horse only paid attention to hurry forward. In the whistle of the wind, Song Juguang hadn't heard what the end of Jiang Changbai's sentence was clearly. But Song Juguang could understand the matter in Jiang Changbai's mind, and she hurried after.
This time, the two's journey was to pay a visit; it was the teacher who had once taught them six years before. However, the path was winding and craggy, and the horses couldn't travel it. The two weren't willing to return to the village lodge the horses with an inn, and could only find a secluded place to tie the horses up. Fortunately, the horses were well-trained, and always recognised their owners. If it weren't the two of them, even if the reins were to be untied, the horses couldn't be led away.
The cliffs were precipitous and precarious, and the trees in the forest were both tall and straight, growing luxuriantly. The ground was covered in decayed, dead leaves, and when one passed over, they wouldn't know what they were stepping on, only able to hear the sound of crunching. But in this forest, heavy with vegetation, there was a small path that had been made by someone's steps.
Following this winding path along, they saw a dilapidated, small courtyard. This courtyard wasn't large at all, yet, by luck, contained some slightly more level ground. All sides of the courtyard were filled with weeds and thickets, the shadows of the trees swaying. At a distance, the roof could be seen to be covered in lemongrass, and although it was clearly summertime, it caused one to feel an exceptional dreariness.
Yet Jiang Changbai still advanced to go knock on the door.
That shabby, old wooden door was pushed open, and the person who came from the middle of the courtyard clearly had some surprise. "How is it that you've come?"
This was their previous teacher, He Leyong. Originally, the highest scorer of the palace examination in the second year of Hejing, when she was found out to be a woman in men's disguise, Emperor Tai had been furious, and punished her with an tattoo on her forehead.[1] Now, the bits of ink that were on her face were the remnants that had remained from then.
Then, during the seventh year of Hejing, she'd disguised herself and entered Prince Ling's residence, and been Jiang Changbai's teacher; in the tenth year of Hejing, she'd been discovered, and exiled from the Prince's residence; for now, that matter wouldn't be raised.
Her haggard hair was fastened by a wood hairpin on her head, and even if there was some scattered specks of white within it, she didn't cut a sorry figure. Her figure had become much thinner, and the simple grey changpao she wore had a not insignificant number of patches on it. But if one were to look carefully, they could see that, at the start, this outfit hadn't been of common make.
This was the second time that Jiang Changbai had seen He Leyong's undisguised figure; although her face had some wrinkles, her eyes were still deep and bright. "Laoshi,[2] we came specially to come look for you," Jiang Changbai said respectfully, bowing her head slightly.
Although they hadn't seen each other for six years, He Leyong still could recognise them with a glance, and she muttered their names to herself; yet her line of sight went to explore behind Song Juguang. "Princess, Juguang. What of Qianbing, how come she hasn't come?"
When she was young, although Jiang Changbai was intelligent, she also was a trickster, and Song Juguang was a blockhead who couldn't remember the four particles of classical language.[3] Of the three of them, He Leyong's fondest student was Xie Qianbing. Now, seeing Jiang Changbai and Song Juguang were both standing here, and there wasn't a trace of her favourite student, she couldn't help but be suspicious.
Jiang Changbai couldn't help but smile bitterly, and said, "Qianbing has matters to attend to at home; next time, I'll definitely have her come as well."
Jiang Changbai knew that He Leyong had lived deep in the mountains for a long while, and didn't have any contact with outsiders. As a result, she wasn't sure whether or not He Leyong knew of her status, and didn't state it clearly either, only following her words and continuing to speak. But He Leyong actually didn't suspect at all, and only nodded, then pushed the door open. "Come in, then."
The courtyard was furnished simply, such that there wasn't even a second chair that could be offered as seating. Of course, no one paid mind to this, and Jiang Changbai and Song Juguang found a somwhat clean place to sit down on the ground at will, leaving that bamboo chair for He Leyong.
But He Leyong seemed to only realise this when she came bearing a couple cups of water, and sighed, saying, "I'm wronging you."
"Of course not," Jiang Chanbai said, rising to take a cup, drinking it in one gulp. "As long as there's water to drink, then we'll be content."
He Leyong, hearing this, looked deeply at Jiang Changbai, her gaze sweeping without ceasing across her and Song Juguang's figures. "Say it, then; what did you come look for this old woman for?"
Translator's notes:
[1]: 墨刑 (moxing), an archaic type of punishment.
[2]: 老师, the address for a teacher.
[3]: The four particles being 之 (zhi), 乎 (hu), 者 (zhe), and 也 (ye), which appear commonly in archaic sayings and classical Chinese writing. Knowing classical language was seen as a sign of education, both in historical and, to a degree, modern times, and historically, almost all writing was written in classical language rather than the vernacular.
Comments
Post a Comment