Chapter 21: The marriage alliance princess
Translator's note: The title for this one is a nightmare to try and render in English, since there's no concise way to convey 和亲 (heqin), a marriage meant for establishing peaceful relations between nations. As a result the title of this chapter is far clunkier than the others have been, much to my dismay. Also, apologies for another late update—life has been getting the better of me.
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At a pace neither neither frenetic nor slow, in the end, the group didn't manage to make it back to the palace before morning court the next day. When they returned, it was already noon, and the sunlight seeped through the wide open windows, lighting up the ink on the inkstone so it shone grey. The carved wooden doors of the Shengru Palace, the heavy, gold-plated window lattices, all seemed to have gained a layer of warmth.
Xie Qianbing was just standing before the desk, her brows faintly furrowed, her hands carefully and cautiously flipping through the memorials on its surface. The desk before her was piled with numerous memorials, but one had been set to the corner by itself, seeming conspicuous.
The sunlight was very strong; windows on either side were open, and even shadows left no trances. Xie Qianbing stood before the desk, writing, focusing seriously, and, actually, hadn't realised they had come. It was Xun Zhu who noticed the two people at the door of the hall, and hurriedly rose to give obeisance. Only on hearing the sound of movement did Xie Qianbing set the brush down, and came hurriedly over before Jiang Changbai. "Bixia, you've returned."
Jiang Changbai nodded, indicating to her to rise. Her gaze swept over the memorials on the desk, and unexpectedly, she was somewhat exasperated. She'd only been gone a single day, and the memorials had actually piled up this much.
Besides Song Juguang and Xie Qianbing, there wasn't a single one of the multitude of ministers in the court who knew that, the day before, the Emperor had actually not been in the palace. Even the cancelled morning court of today, they had all only taken as Jiang Changbai convalescing.
Although Xie Qianbing had been given permission by Jiang Changbai to reply to memorials, she was still in reverence to the Emperor. Now, seeing Jiang Chang had returned, her heart let out a long, muddy sigh. She extended a finger to gesture at that singular, set aside memorial, and said with some exhaustion, "Bixia, not much happened yesterday in the capital. It's just that this memorial, expedited from the Western border, I'm afraid needs you to look at personally."
Jiang Changbai blinked; she could more or less guess who this memorial had been sent by. She hurried over to the desk to pick it up, but as her gaze swept over the memorial, her brows gradually furrowed. Xie Qianbiang, standing at the side, clenched her hands slightly, a thread of unease showing in her eyes. Her lips twitched, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she still chose to remain silent.
For Your Majesty's attention,
The subject Wei Xiren sincerely sends this memorial.
Now, the Shejin forces which disturbed the border have already been pacified; the region is in good health, and the citizens are at peace. So, after this subject sent forces for suppression, I surreptitiously investigated, and discovered that the enemy officers and soldiers spoke about the matter of a princess being sent for a marriage alliance, and disappearing in our nation's borders; it seems to not be a fabrication.
The end of the eleventh month of the sixteenth year of Hejing, the daughter of the Shejin king, Liang Jiwen, in order to seek fellowship between the two nations, came to our country as a betrothal, and now, there hasn't been any correspondence; as a result, the king of Shejin had no alternative but to send soldiers.
This subject feels deeply that this matter is extremely important; to postpone it, I fear will cause future troubles, and I request earnestly that Your Majesty investigates it clearly, in order to cast it with the light of the heavens.
Before Jiang Changbai had even finished reading it, she felt it was absurd. With a "pa", the memorial was closed, and she even smiled. Song Juguang, seeing this, took a few steps closer, trying to see what had been written on the memorial. Jiang Changbai, seeing she'd come close, wasn't hesitant in the slightest, and with a shake of her hand, opened the memorial up once more.
"This memorial was sent to the wrong place; military and serious matters all ought to be given to the Regent," Jiang Changbai said, just about to press the memorial into Song Juguang's hands. Yet, Song Juguang stopped by Jiang Changbai's side, bowing slightly, her hand bypassing her, not at all avoiding the taboo of touch to cover her left hand. Jiang Changbai stilled, yet didn't try and dodge it, her entire figure stopping on the spot. She could sense the thin callouses on Song Juguang's hand as they brushed lightly against the back of her hand, and could also sense the warmth in Song Juguang's breaths.
Suddenly, she tilted her head, yet she saw Song Juguang's gaze staring at the memorial that Wei Xiren had sent.
How truly strangely hot the summer days are, Jiang Changbai thought.
"As long as it's matters of the state, they all ought to be sent to Bixia," Song Juguang said, shaking her head. "Before, Xiren didn't understand the rules."
As for Xie Qianbing, standing by the side, at this, furrowed herbrows, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Jiang Changbai and Song Juguang, the expression on her face colder and colder. Although the two were both women, now wasn't the same as before; the positions of lord and minister were different; how could they be this intimate?
Xie Qianbing swallowed back her saliva, her fingers uneasily stroking back and forth on her cuff. Pressing the corners of her lips together, she strove to maintain the serenity on her face. But, in the end, she still couldn't hold back, and drew a deep breath, bowing to say, "Bixia, the implications of this matter are great; I'm afraid we can't merely believe the words of Wei-jiangjun alone. I'll advise Bixia to give an order immediately, and have the officials of all regions to search together."
Jiang Changbai, hearing this, raised her head, and her gaze stopped on Xie Qianbing for a long while; only then did she say, "It's not pressing; first, I'll take you to go meet someone." When she finished speaking, she set the memorial on the desk, and headed directly out the door.
Xie Qianbing, hearing this, was baffled, but she still respectfully followed behind Jiang Changbai, her steps slightly urgent. However, turning her head to look towards Song Juguang, she realised that she still had an appearance of planning, and an inexplicable, indescribably feeling rose in her heart in a brief moment, feeling only like a sort of smotheredness in her chest.
The group walked to an adjacent hall, the hall's doors already open. He Leyong wore white attire, her hair frost-white, and she was sitting before a table, reading a record. From afar, her figure was calm, without the slightest bit of travel-weariness.
Even as a great talent, He Leyong had lived in seclusion deep in the mountains for many years, and didn't have much understanding towards the state of affairs of the current court. So, after they'd returned to the palace, Jiang Changbai had ordered some people to bring all the records of the great matters within the recent years, and gave them to her to consult.
At first, Xie Qianbing didn't dare to believe it, but her trembling hands betrayed her thoughts. Only when Jiang Changbai softly called out Laoshi, and He Leyong's identity was confirmed, did she hurry a few steps forward, and fall to her knees with a "pu-tong" before He Leyong. "Laoshi!" she said, voice trembling and the rims of her eyes wet, "Laoshi, it's truly you!"
He Leyong, hearing this, raised her head, pleasant surprise flashing in her eyes. She reached out, patting Xie Qianbing's shoulder, and then helped her up. "In the three years we haven't seen each other, Qianbing has truly grown up. Yesterday, they told me they'd left you at home, and I was even worried as to whether or not something had happened. Now, seeing you're well, I can relax."
Xie Qianbing raised her head, her tears slipping down her cheeks. She grasped He Leyong's hand tightly, her voice full of emotion. "I'm very well; Laoshi, now, I'm a minister. Now, having come to the capital, don't leave again, just live at my residence. This student will most certainly support you properly."
Jiang Changbai smiled. "Ah, but Laoshi's still young, how come you're so anxious to provide for her in retirement?"
Xie Qianbing, hearing this, turned her head to look towards Jiang Changbai, her gaze filled with disbelief. "Bixia, you mean…?"
Jiang Changbai nodded. "For the keju in half a year's time, it'll be Laoshi who will preside over it."
"I hadn't imagined that there would be a day I could return and be an official," He Leyong sighed softly, an incredibly complex emotion within her expression; she raised her hand, and stroked Xie Qianbing's hair. "Child, don't cry anymore." But she ought not have said it; as soon as she did, Xie Qianbing began crying even more greatly. She buried her head in He Leyong's bosom, crying like a small child.
Song Juguang raised her head, sighing in exasperation. The fingers hidden in her sleeves tapped lightly a few times, and a cool breeze rose from who knew where, blowing away the heat within the hall. Song Juguang's brows furrowed slightly, and she turned her head to look towards Jiang Changbai, reading some helplessness in her eyes as well.
He Leyong's gaze swept over Song Juguang; with a thought, she extended a hand and dragged her close as well. She said, "Now, all the neglected tasks in the Great Li are underway, you both need to scrupulously abide the duties of a minister, assisting the Emperor, and benefiting the people."
Song Juguang had never been much used to touching another's skin, and at this moment, her hand being grabbed by He Leyong, even though she was her own teacher, her entire being was somewhat uncomfortable. Calmly and collectedly, she drew her hand back, agreed in a low voice. "It's as Laoshi says."
Yet Xie Qianbing nodded repeatedly. "Laoshi, this student will most definitely not failt to live up to your expectations."
Jiang Changbai looked at the three people before her, and for a moment, there was actually some upset in her heart. It was as if an inexplicable barrier had appeared between her and them, the camaraderie of the past having unexpectedly been hindered by the identities of rulers and ministers.
He Leyong realised Jiang Changbai's mood, and the emotion that flashed in her eyes was just as complex. It seemed as if there was something she wanted to say, but in the moment, she hesitated. He Leyong drew a deep breath, her gaze shifting to Jiang Changbai's figure, as if she was hesitating as to whether she wanted to speak or not.
Jiang Changbai, seeing this, took a step forward, some happiness threading into her heart. "Laoshi, I'll be your student forever."
A strand of gratification rose in He Leyong's heart when she heard this. She raised her head, and looked at the Jiang Changbai before her, as if penetrating through the marks of time, and seeing that previous, half-height young girl. He Leyong's gaze looked over Jiang Changbai's face carefully, the happiness in her eyes irrepressible.
But, in the end, she still retreated slightly, bowing slightly, and said, deferential, "I'm indebted to Bixia's honour; this minister will, of course, fullfil my duties to the best of my abilities, for you, and to share the worries of the Great Li."
Jiang Changbai, hearing this, stiffened, feeling merely as if her chest had been struck heavily by a hammer. Her lips parted and closed, and she stammered for a long while, not speaking. Only after a while did she sigh, "Good, good." Without waiting for another to speak, Jiang Changbai added, "In the past, achievement in office was earned through corruption; since We have ascended, a not insignificant number of corrupt officials have been demoted. Now, every division has empty positions; I don't know whether Laoshi has any inclinations?"
Xie Qianbing, who had just then been submerged in the joy of meeting her teacher again, at this moment, suddenly hearing these words of Jiang Changbai's, actually suddenly drew back the tears which even lying would have a hard time causing. She rose, standing at He Leyong's side, and the faint twist of her fingers betrayed her feelings.
Yet He Leyong seemed not to have noticed the change of Jiang Changbai's attitude, and only smiled. "Bixia, this subject doesn't need a high position; I only hope to use all of myself in service of the nation and the people. It would be best to give this subject a nominal position, and wait until this subject achieves something worthwhile, and then talk about bestowing a reward."
Hearing this, Jiang Changbai nodded lightly. "Since it's like that, then I'll first enfeof you as a landlord, and after the upcoming keju, I'll evaluate the merits of rewarding performance."
He Leyong drew back a step, kneeling to give thanks. Yet Jiang Changbai still stood in her original spot, unmoving, and it was Song Juguang who moved forward to help her up. And, until Xie Qianbing left the Imperial Palace, she still remained quiet out of fear.
The night had grown deep, yet Song Juguang still remained in the Shengru Palace. At first, Jiang Changbai had only taken in as her still having important matters to discuss, and so hadn't questioned it much. But, by the time even Jiang Changbai herself felt weary, Song Juguang still sat languidly on the low couch, not having the slightest intention to leave.
Jiang Changbai knit her brows lightly, a faint thread of misgiving rising in her heart, and so she set her brush down, and asked searchingly, "A Guang, the night's already grown long, are you still not going back to rest?"
Song Juguang smiled tranquilly, not hurrying to reply, but rather calmly looking at Jiang Changbai. Only after a moment did she sigh softly, yet her toned seemed as if she had switched with someone. "Ah, Bixia, this minister is quite tired; I don't want to return to my residence."
Jiang Changbai's heart, hearing this, trembled. She couldn't guess what medicine Song Juguang was selling from her calabash gourd, and only treated it as if she were joking. "Then I'll call a few palace maids to carry you back in a palanquin; in the end, you're still the Regent; this bit of treatment still exists.
Song Juguang shook her head. "But this Imperial Palace is so great, isn't there a side hall that could be given to this minister for a night? In the end, after all, this minister is still a regent."
With the words she'd spoken leveled back at her, Jiang Changbai, hearing this, startled, rounding the memorial-piled desk to come before Song Juguang. The eyes looking at her were filled with suspicions, but she only asked, "What's the Regent acting like this for?"
Song Juguang shrugged her shoulders. "The minister who hastened on the road and climbed a mountain these past couple of days, and also fought a round with a bear. There aren't any maids waiting in my residence during the middle of the night; if I return now, I'm afraid I'd have to cook and lay out the bedding myself. It would be better for Bixia to pity this minister, and offer this minister to rest in the palace for a night."
"You…" Jiang Changbai was still suspicious, and wanted to continue interrogating, yet, looking into those smile-filled eyes of Song Juguang's, for a while, she was at a loss for words.
Seeing this, the smile on Song Juguang's face grew even heavier. She didn't say anymore, only softly patting Jiang Changbai's shoulder.
Jiang Chagbai's heart was guarded, but she also knew that her words, in this palace, weren't necessarily as efficacious as Song Juguang's. So, she merely turned around, and said to Xun Zhu, by the side, "Go fide a few people to tidy up the warm room of the Yangxin Hall for the Regent to rest in tonight."
Hearing this, Xun Zhu hurried to acquiesce, and headed out. Song Juguang, seeing this, brushed her sleeves aside, and, making a show of earnestness, cupped her hands in obeisance towards Jiang Changbai. "Many thanks to Bixia." When she finished speaking, she headed out, leaving only Jiang Changbai standing in her original spot, a multitude of unresolved thoughts in her mind.
In the depths of night, the Imperial Palace was sunken in darkness, only a few palace lanterns swaying lightly in the night breeze. It was just that the air wasn't as dry and hot as the daylight, but rather damp and humid. The mass of clouds that had gathered who knew when, under the light of the moon, bunched together, dripping scattered raindrops.
The lights in the Yangxin Hall had already been extinguished, yet Jiang Changbai laid on the bed, eyes wide open, unable to slip into sleep. The sentences in Wei Xiren's memorial tumbled about in her mind. She'd never heard Liang Jiwen's name before, and didn't trust in Wei Xiren at all. But her intuition told her that, actually, this matter may not truly be false. If she truly died in the Great Li's territory, then she feared that Shejin would truly wrought great troubles.
Jiang Changbai's head hurt from thinking, and she wished she could summon all the officials from the road from Shejin to here, and command then to search ceaselessly for this princess. She sighed, hands unconsciously rubbing at her temples. Suddenly feeling her mouth and tongue were dry, she quietly called out for Xun Zhu.
After a moment, a figure came in, carrying a cup of tea. The room was dusky, and Jiang Changbai couldn't clearly see the person's face; hands supporting her body, she sat up, and allowed the thin quilt covering her body to slip down around her waist, until, when she took the teacup, she suddenly realised that the pair of hands before her weren't Xun Zhu's at all. So, greatly alarmed, in a rush, she turned her head to gaze at the person by her side.
The outline the moonlight sketched was Song Juguang's figure.
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