Chapter Fifty
I kept this matter in my heart and mulled it over for more than ten days.
Now that the Li and Wu families hadn’t yet reached a settlement, the Li household was already riven by internal strife. Even if Li Longji treated me well, someone capable of such calculations at a mere seventeen—what would that say of him later? I admit I had selfish motives: I feared for the king’s younger sister’s safety in the future, and I feared he might truly cast aside family ties…
Outside, spring was at its best, even a little muggy.
Xiazhi brewed tea beside me. I stared at her for a long moment before saying, “Xiazhi, Yonghui had a high fever before the New Year that wouldn’t break. I went to Baima Temple to burn incense and it seemed to work. Why not take advantage of these fine days and go fulfill a vow?” She refilled my cup and asked, “Should we inform the old prince and the princess?” I smiled, “No need. Travel light.”
When I finished speaking, I watched her for a while, then asked softly, “I want to see the Shouchun Prince. Could you pass the message?” Her expression didn’t change; she set the teapot down at her side. “Not very convenient. It’ll take a few days to arrange.” I nodded and said nothing more.
It took three days for the matter to be settled.
The carriage had not been on the road long before it was stopped. Xia Zhi got down to ask, and when he returned to the carriage his face was very unpleasant: “The magistrate of Luoyang is clearing the road. He says there’s a banquet today, and all passing vehicles must give way.” I thought for a moment; I didn’t know who the current magistrate of Luoyang was, but Dongyang picked up the thread: “Zhang Changzong’s blood brother, Zhang Changyi.”
I brightened: “So it’s him. Then we’ll wait.”
Since Chancellor Di’s passing, the two Zhangs’ influence had grown even greater than before. Even Li Xian’s faction gave them a wide berth, let alone the brothers of Li Longji. All of Li Chengqi’s credit for his great victory over the Turks had been suppressed, while his handsome younger brother seemed to be the one basking in glory.
At that thought, I casually drew back the carriage curtain and took a glance. I saw several horses galloping toward us, paying no heed to the townsfolk by the roadside.
A real scourge upon the state and people.
Just as I was about to let the curtain fall, I heard frantic neighing. One horse, somehow frightened, reared up, its forelegs high, and in its flailing it knocked down three or four people — it seemed poised to trample a small child when, inexplicably, rider and horse were both hurled over and sent tumbling several zhang.
I was stunned, and through the dust I saw someone helping the struck child to his feet. His posture and bearing looked so familiar; when he turned around I realized with a start that it was Yao Yuanchong. The riders who had been charging along dismounted at once, hastily helping those who had fallen, checking for injuries and shouting about who could be so reckless.
“Madam, isn’t that Lord Yao?” Dongyang also leaned in to look, his voice fairly nervous. I nodded: “Indeed, it’s the Lord Yao you’ve always admired.” Dongyang gave an embarrassed smile: “Madam, how do you still remember the sword match from back then?” I was silent for a moment, then said quietly, “The Yao family of Wuxing are exceptional swordsmen. Having been fortunate enough to see it, how could I simply forget?”
She responded and said casually, “But come to think of it, that day it was the Prince of Shouchun who truly opened my eyes.”
I smiled and said nothing further.
In the time it took to say those few lines, Zhang Changyi had already staggered to his feet, waving for someone to seize Yao Yuanchong.
When Dongyang saw this, she began to get nervous again. I couldn’t help teasing her at the look on her face: “What are you afraid of? Yao Yuanchong’s official career is flourishing. Lord Di, before his passing, strongly pushed for him to become chancellor. He’s bound to rise soon; one magistrate of Luoyang wouldn’t dare do anything to him.”
Dongyang nodded and kept stealing glances.
I didn’t keep looking; I picked up my scroll and waited for the road to clear so we could leave the city. Unexpectedly, just a page into the book, Dongyang suddenly gasped and hastily turned back: “Madam, Lord Yao is about to get into big trouble…” I looked at her in puzzlement. She couldn’t speak, only pointing insistently outside the carriage.
It wasn’t until the curtain was lifted again that I understood what had frightened her so.
In no time at all, that righteous-looking Lord Yao had drawn his sword and was holding it right up against Zhang Changyi’s neck, his expression as if he were about to rid the people of a menace. I sucked in a breath, hurriedly dropped the book, and got off the carriage.
The household coachman was startled when he saw me appear and hissed, “Madam, get inside quickly, there’s going to be blood.” It was precisely because there might be blood that I had run out; I had no time to explain, I lifted my skirts and called out, “Lord Yao.” Yao Yuanchong paused, glanced this way, recognized me after a moment, and said, “Madam.”
Luckily he still remembered me.
By now the onlookers had all stepped back a dozen paces; Zhang Changyi’s attendants dared not move, only watching with fierce eyes. When they heard my voice, they all turned to stare, their menacing faces terrifying to behold.
I steadied myself, pushed through the crowd, and bowed respectfully, “Lord Yao, Luoyang is full of people and horses; things like this happen a few times a day — there’s no need for you to get upset.” He frowned slightly, about to say something, so I quickly added, “Come to think of it, this is partly the county prince’s fault — insisting on inviting the Prefect of Luoyang into the mansion for drinks, which made Lord Zhang hurry his mount.” I deliberately emphasized the words “Prefect of Luoyang,” just in case he didn’t catch on, and then reached out to steady the tip of my sword.
The moment his finger touched it, he felt a sting—truly the tip of a sharp sword.
Fortunately there was no blood; with no blood everything can be smoothed over.
Under the sword’s edge, Zhang Changyi’s face had long since gone deathly pale; only now did he roughly guess whom he’d offended.
“Lord Zhang,” I said with a smile as I looked at him, “you’re frightened.”
He stared at me blankly. I smiled again: “I am from the Prince of Linzi’s household. Sir may not recall, but have you heard of Princess Yonghui? That was my full sister.” No matter what, I was still a member of the Wu family; once he heard that, he would feel restrained.
Just as I expected, he looked at me in astonishment, hesitated a moment, then said, “Princess Yongan?”
I didn’t answer. Looking at Yao Yuanchong again, he didn’t insist further; he sheathed his sword and said, “So it’s Minister Zhang—my apologies for the rudeness.”
He was clever enough to understand that although he wasn’t afraid of Yao Yuanchong, he couldn’t provoke him right now. He smoothed his clothes, bowed to him and said, “So it’s Minister Yao—what a misunderstanding. My brother has always admired you; seeing you today brings a certain… atmosphere,” he laughed awkwardly, then added, “A real man ought to show the spirit of swinging a sword in righteous anger like Minister Yao. Someday Minister Zhang will surely visit your residence—”
Since it was a misunderstanding, the two of them naturally exchanged a few polite words and Zhang Changyi finally mounted his horse and left.
I watched his retreating figure and gave Yao Yuanchong an apologetic smile. “Lord Yao, I’m sorry.” He shook his head and smiled. “It is I who should be thanking you. If Madam hadn’t pointed it out, it could have become a great catastrophe.” Only then did I feel the pain surge up my fingers; afraid he might see it and say more apologies, I quickly drew my hand back into my sleeve and said softly, “After Lord Di, the Li imperial clan will have to rely on you, sir. The saying goes that a sword is honed for ten years — one day someone will indeed draw that sword, but it will certainly not be in this small city of Luoyang.”
A flash of surprise crossed his eyes and was gone, then a slowly dawning smile appeared.
Somehow, I always felt that smile was familiar, uncannily like the late Lord Di.
Because of delays on the road, it was nearly noon by the time we reached White Horse Temple.
After offering incense and making vows, Xia Zhi used the excuse of letting me rest and led me into a private courtyard he had arranged beforehand. The yard was very quiet, mostly shaded by tree shadows, and there was a very deep well in the center. I glanced at the well—so deep, somewhat frightening—and as I was pulling my gaze back, someone had already approached from behind.
“Prince,” I said, seeing the shadow at my feet, and turned around with understanding. His gaze fell on my hand. “Is it badly hurt?” I shook my head and smiled, “I just accidentally cut it.” He only smiled, and after a moment sighed, “Yao Yuanchong is a martial man; the blade in his hand is sharp. You actually dared to stop it with your bare hand.”
I looked up at him, surprised. “Prince, you saw it too?” He nodded and said, “I didn’t expect you to take the initiative.” I was puzzled: “If you saw it, why didn’t you reveal yourself?” His face, after all, was far more useful than mine. He seemed not to mind and only said, “Yao Yuanchong has a noble bearing. If he remembers today’s events, he might be able to help you in a time of danger.”
For a moment I was dazed; after a while I smiled and said, “Thanks, Big Brother.”
This was the first time I called him that. He seemed to have expected it—his expression calm as ever—he only smiled and asked, “You’re so eager to find me and have been avoiding Longji. Did you run into some trouble? Do you need me to do anything?”
Seeing him ask directly, I didn’t hesitate. I told him everything, from my aunt’s relationship with the formerly richest Zou family to meeting their relatives a dozen days ago, and about what Wang Yuanbao had entrusted to me. He listened quietly the whole time. Only when I finished did he say, “This matter isn’t hard to handle. Why are you hiding it from Longji?”
I gave a wry smile and looked at him. “Consider it leaving an escape route for the Wu family in the future.” He pondered for a moment, then said, “Given how he treats you, he won’t trouble your family later on.” I stared at him and said seriously, “People’s hearts are hard to fathom, and the sea’s breadth can’t be measured.”
He looked back at me; in his pitch-dark, fathomless eyes there wasn’t a trace of emotion. After a long while he finally spoke, “If I intervene, aren’t you afraid I’ll take him for my own use?” I smiled, “Even if people’s hearts are hard to fathom, there are always times you have to take a gamble. Over all these years, aside from Father, you’re the only one I dare to trust completely.”
He fell silent.
I added, “And I’m asking this of you also to put the Mai Sect in your hands. If in the future I make things difficult for Li Longji over this, you can cut off my retreat to help him.”
He still said nothing; I gradually found myself unable to read his thoughts and could only wait quietly.
Perhaps because we were near the temple, the birds weren’t afraid of people at all — they landed not far from the two of us, a few gathering to peck at the ground. I turned my head to watch and suddenly felt a bit envious of the freedom of these creatures.
In the end he sighed, “I’m only afraid that if he finds out later, he’ll truly grow suspicious of you.”
What he said was also what I had been thinking. Though I had no intention of harming him, I still kept a guard against him.
“Saving someone is easy; if you want to control the trade routes, even if you have the will it’s hard to accomplish,” he said, watching me calmly. “I will help you save that person, and I will help you and Prince Heng’an restore the Zou family’s trade. If your father is fortunate enough to ascend the throne—before that, if Longji discovers this matter, simply wash your hands of it completely; after that, if Longji gives your family trouble, even if I am powerless to help, you will have something to rely on.”
He said it like that, and in the end what actually reached my ears was the line “even if I am powerless to help.”
For a moment I couldn’t speak; a bitter ache rose in my chest. After all these years he’s seen the closeness of imperial power and the right and wrong it brings—he already understood it clearly. Although he didn’t bluntly say how unpredictable people’s hearts are as I would have, it turned out he had prepared himself all the same.