Chapter 53: The Emperor’s Love Letter
This was the second letter Ying Xi had written to him. The first one, he still kept tucked in his bosom.
The previous letter had been short, reporting safety, telling him he had returned to the Imperial Palace. Although Xie Qianli didn’t know how he returned. But since it wasn’t convenient to ask, he ultimately let down his suspended heart and read the second one.
The wording of the second letter was obviously much more composed.
The Emperor ordered the amnesty mission to return and arranged tasks for the return journey.
The bandit trouble in the north had been basically eliminated. Bandits everywhere were now constantly surrendering to the court, actively requesting amnesty. These people were a mixed bag, and the locals might find it hard to manage. The mission must double-check upon return. There could not be situations like in Luoxian where superiors were deceived and subordinates hidden.
The words were brief and all about official business, fitting the Emperor’s identity and character.
Such a task-assigning letter inevitably had to end with pleasantries, wishing for safety along the way and the like.
But Ying Xi left him two seemingly disjointless phrases: “The peony is on the verge of withering, spring is gradually fading.” Meaning, spring is about to pass, and the peonies in Chang’an are about to wither.
Xie Qianli read this letter repeatedly, but in the end, didn’t understand. What did the withering of flowers have to do with his return journey?
He finished patrolling the street, tucked the letter away, and planned to ask Zhu Zhao indirectly.
Zhu Zhao had taught Ying Xi reading and writing; he would surely guess the source of the allusion.
Zhu Zhao was right in the county office (Yamen).
Xie Qianli dismounted before entering the Yamen, tucking his silver helmet under his arm as he entered the main hall. From a distance, he was a tall, large, and heroic figure. Upon approaching, he saluted: “Greetings, Chief Envoy, Mister Zhu.”
Zhu Zhao quickly returned a half-salute. He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but while Xie Qianli was cold to everyone on the surface, he had respected him like a teacher since childhood. Clearly, he had never taught Xie Qianli a single word.
A trace of strangeness passed through Zhu Zhao’s heart, but he didn’t delve into it. He chatted without any deep meaning: “After Gao Mingyang’s death, the work of registering the bandits falls to us. This official intends to hold a ceremony to celebrate the bandits returning to the fields, mainly to let the common people recognize them so they can be supervised from now on.”
Xie Qianli cupped his hands: “Mister is wise.”
Zhu Zhao said, “The Return to Fields Ceremony also needs the Longwu Army to preside over it; it serves as somewhat of a deterrent.”
Xie Qianli: “Alright.”
Zhu Zhao said faintly again, “Magistrate Gao’s actions harmed Luoxian, and in the end, he died for Luoxian. His merits and faults offset each other. His Majesty didn’t pursue responsibility and even compensated his family with several times the pension silver. It can be considered a proper accounting.”
Xie Qianli nodded.
Because he was constantly thinking about the relationship between the blooming flowers and the return journey, he secretly zoned out, not listening carefully to Zhu Zhao’s ramblings at all, his fingertips rubbing that letter.
Zhu Zhao sighed. “His Majesty just sent a letter instructing us that on the return journey, we must carefully evaluate the follow-up situation of amnesty in various places. We must not whitewash peace like in Luoxian…”
—”Mister also received a letter!?”
Xie Qianli suddenly raised his sword eyebrows. He tried his best to control himself, not to show shock or disappointment. He always wore a calm, cold face and was good at concealing.
However, how could he deceive himself? Xie Qianli’s teeth ached.
After all, Zhu Zhao was both the Chief Envoy and a teacher. To arrange official business, it was perfectly normal for the Emperor, who respected teachers and valued the Dao, to write a letter.
Xie Qianli calmed down a little.
He puffed out his chest. “His Majesty wrote me two letters; the content is roughly the same.”
At this moment, Zhu Zhao’s brow jumped. The sense of strangeness spread again. In addition to the strangeness, a sense of loss rose up, and he actually had the thought of competing with a junior. Zhu Zhao pretended to be casual: “What a coincidence, His Majesty also wrote two letters to this official.”
Xie Qianli: “…”
Xie Qianli pursed his thin lips. After a long while, he finally squeezed out a probing sentence: “Apart from official business in the letter, did the Holy One have any other requests?”
This depended on how one analyzed it.
Xie Qianli didn’t think he was prying into others’ privacy. Ying Xi always liked to receive small, inexpensive items. On the return journey, there were many local specialties.
On the surface, this question asked: Did the Emperor ask you to bring anything?
In reality, he wanted to judge: Did the Emperor say any intimate words, like the flowers and the return journey he couldn’t figure out?
Xie Qianli awaited the answer.
The dignified General, with a cold face, was actually somewhat anxious inside.
The truth was that Ying Xi did write words to Zhu Zhao outside of official business. That was to forgive Zhu Zhao for having a pen pal in the Jiangnan Army and communicating frequently with them—the Emperor defined the matter of communicating with the enemy in this way.
Zhu Zhao had mixed feelings upon seeing the letter and immediately destroyed the token of the Jiangnan Army intelligence agent.
Mister Zhu felt relieved because of this.
Lowering his eyes to reveal a dignified smile, Zhu Zhao was in a good mood, but he couldn’t share it after all. He shook his head slightly: “His Majesty only spoke of official business.”
Only then did Xie Qianli thoroughly heave a sigh of relief.
The Duke of Ying was also in a very good mood. Xie Qianli’s brows relaxed, and then he puffed out his chest with more confidence, his tone unconsciously rising: “Mister, I heard the flowers in Chang’an are about to wither.” Xie Qianli said.
Zhu Zhao narrowed his eyes, naturally and gently understanding: “Yes, having left the capital for months, we must return to Chang’an quickly, otherwise we won’t catch the last flowering season…”
Xie Qianli was stunned. In that instant, like a lost soul, he was repeatedly and ruthlessly struck by the eight words at the end of that wild goose letter:
— The peony is on the verge of withering, spring is gradually fading.
So this was a scholar’s way of expression, Ying Xi’s habitual riddle.
It was Ying Xi saying: Come back quickly.
Xie Qianli clenched the letter tightly!
Veins popped on the back of his hand, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but turn up.
When his palm touched the floral note paper, it was as if he could suddenly connect to Ying Xi. Before his eyes appeared the sunset like blood, entrusting the letter eagle at the camp, crossing the river in the misty spring rain, the dim candlelight in the corridor, the arrow rain at the bandit stronghold… every one of Ying Xi’s smiles and frowns.
He called me to come back, yet he still glared at me.
Was he injured? How did he take Dong Gu away? Why did he always do things that made people uneasy?
Xie Qianli was purely joyous on his own. clearly wearing heavy armor, yet he felt light all over as if ascending the clouds.
He became eager to return like an arrow, not even knowing how he said goodbye to Zhu Zhao, returning to the team in a daze.
Back at the camp, the Longwu Army soldiers had changed their garrison to the grain drying field on the edge of Luoxian County Town.
Today was sunny. Soldiers not scheduled for patrol duties were conducting daily drills on the field, led by Lian Qing. The soldiers lined up neatly in formation, Lian Qing weaving through them.
Although Lian Qing was unreliable as a person, his tactical movements were barely reliable.
He was demonstrating and explaining to a soldier how to break a spear with a blade. The blade in his hand passed like a silver shadow as Lian Qing skillfully completed the moves.
When he sheathed his blade, out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Xie Qianli had returned and was also inspecting. His gait looked normal, but his face actually showed a light flush that even his skin color couldn’t hide.
Lian Qing was shocked; the blade almost stabbed into the back of his hand. Mother!
Lian Qing hurried over, rubbing his hands with an awkward face, and asked, “Gen-General, have you taken a fancy to some girl in the city? Is it convenient to bring her back to Chang’an???”
“…”
Shanglin Park, Yichun Palace.
All the internal officials were busy clearing out ample space for the upcoming audience with the Barbarian King.
Who knew that Barbarian King would be so hasty? No sooner had he submitted the credentials than he rushed to Chang’an.
The Barbarian King submitted the gift list first, sending elephants, peacocks, famous flowers, jade… without exception, all should be arranged in Shanglin Park, and a peacock performance was also scheduled.
So the reception for the Barbarian King was at Shanglin Park, just like the Flower Viewing Banquet, at Yichun Palace.
This time, the Southwest was putting etiquette before people; Ying Xi could not lose the demeanor of a great nation. He had to meet the Barbarian King this time.
Since Ying Xi had returned from his private visit, he decided to simply announce his official return to work starting with receiving the Barbarian King.
“Be careful, the peacocks from out of town might fight with the peacocks in the park. It would be improper if a fight broke out suddenly when the foreign guests arrive.”
“You ask if we should clip the peacocks’ wings? ‘The peacock flies southeast, wandering every five miles.’ If you clip them into free-range chickens! What is there to see?”
“Elephants cannot enter Shanglin Park; lead them far away!”
Spring was warm, and birds chirped.
Within the grounds of Yichun Palace, Yu Jing directed the internal officials while Ying Xi admired the scenery.
Compared to the blooming of a hundred flowers during the Flower Viewing Banquet, the garden was now full of lush greenery, possessing a different kind of vitality. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have known that the peonies in the garden had already withered.
“The flower season is short; time truly flies.” Ying Xi lamented in his mind.
At the mention of peony flowers, Sweet System didn’t make a sound.
What was going on?
The system hadn’t popped up recently, nor had it arranged tasks. Ying Xi felt it was acting sneaky; Sweet System might be hiding something.
But this also meant he didn’t have to be forced to do strange things. Ying Xi naturally had no intention of forcing it. He continued to admire the scenery.
“Your Majesty, please take a look. Is it suitable to place this pot of camellias here?”
Ying Xi came back to his senses. He saw Yu Jing holding a pot of ‘Eighteen Scholars’ camellia, teasing him. Naturally, the Emperor didn’t need to worry about such small matters.
He nodded slightly and replied, “It’s all good. The camellias in the south bloom very well.”
Yu Jing was so smooth-tongued; he smiled and continued, “Whether south or north, it is all Your Majesty’s mountains and rivers. Don’t even the best camellias have to be sent before Your Majesty’s eyes?”
The North was unified, internal rebellion swept away, but Li Yilong still occupied the South (Jiangnan).
Although Ying Xi was temporarily free, he had not let go of state affairs in his heart. Thus, looking at a potted flower, he naturally mentioned the south.
He let out a light laugh and said to Yu Jing, “You are clever.”
In that instant, the Emperor’s smiling face reflected the soft light of late spring, dazzling Yu Jing’s eyes.
The Grand Eunuch had finally guessed the Emperor’s mind correctly once. Feeling a small sense of accomplishment and not being scolded, it seemed the Emperor was in a good mood today.
The Grand Eunuch knew how to climb the pole. “All these types of camellias are called ‘Eighteen Scholars.’ This pot is beautiful, but I fear it cannot reflect the grace of the palace camellias. This servant boldly asks for a reward for the flower; please bestow a name upon this pot.”
Ying Xi scoffed lightly. He had always maintained a neutral attitude toward the eunuch group—not fully trusting, yet still finding them useful: “Bring a brush.”
This was giving Yu Jing immense face. Yu Jing hurriedly handed over a brush and called two little eunuchs to unroll a gold-flecked scroll.
Ying Xi dipped the brush in thick ink. Without thinking, a ready-made name appeared before his eyes, and he intended to write the two words “Tu Nan” (Aiming South/Grand Ambition).
The brush tip touched the paper and just slid down, but then the brush tip suddenly became unstable! The Emperor’s wrist trembled lightly. With great determination, Ying Xi barely managed to write a hook where it trembled.
The Emperor couldn’t bear to look straight at it: “…”
From the other end of the Yichun Palace imperial path covered in greenery, several female relatives of the imperial clan walked over. They had all come to pay respects upon hearing that the Emperor had recovered from his illness. Princess Huachao was among them.
Ying Jia (Huachao) had been caught red-handed by Ying Xi; she was a bold and vigorous woman.
He already understood Ying Jia’s true nature, so Ying Jia naturally didn’t need to deliberately pretend to be a lady in front of him in the future.
Ying Jia, no longer pretending, was dressed entirely like a nun, wearing a blue-grey monk’s robe.
Her face was sallow like wax paper, as if someone had starved her for days. When she bowed together with the other women, Ying Jia alone looked like a solitary foxtail grass amidst a cluster of fresh flowers.
—”Your Majesty’s dragon body has recovered; we subjects-daughters are all relieved. May Your Majesty’s holy body be healthy and blessings be long-lasting.”
—”Amitabha.”
Ying Xi: What is wrong with her???
The meeting at Yunyong Tower was vivid in his mind. The Princess Huachao who clamored in the restaurant to see peerless handsome men suddenly had her six senses purified.
The young ladies snickered.
Princess Jinxiang was petty. Because Huachao was exceptionally beautiful, she usually outshone everyone.
Now that Ying Jia was deliberately acting ugly in public, Jinxiang finally caught a chance to turn the tables.
So after a few words of conversation, Jinxiang seized the opportunity, pinching her voice to say: “Whenever we sisters come for an audience, Your Majesty always bestows silver upon us. This time, we sisters don’t want it. We request to pool funds to build a nunnery and send Huachao into the temple immediately.”
Jinxiang had many little sisters. Among them, there was no lack of those with ulterior motives, making a fuss and deliberately blowing small matters out of proportion.
Another female relative said, “Huachao lost her manners before the Sovereign, wearing strange clothes to bewitch. I think she wants to ruin His Majesty’s mood. His Majesty just recovered; she can’t stand to see His Majesty well!”
Princess Jinxiang played along, eyes smiling, but her words carried hidden meaning: “Huachao’s clothes are too plain; it’s disheartening to look at. We should give Huachao some color.”
Between Princesses and Commandery Princesses, there was also their own Jianghu (world/conflict).
But Huachao was not a soft persimmon, Ying Xi thought.
Given Huachao’s true temper, facing the deliberate provocation of Commandery Princess Jinxiang and others, even if she didn’t fight back on the spot, she should at least show a dissatisfied little expression.
Her eyes were round and bright.
When they met at Yunyong Tower, she was able to quickly evoke the Emperor’s sympathy, making Ying Xi firmly determined not to send his lively and clever sister to be ground down by the Barbarian King. Her spirited eyes had contributed greatly.
But Huachao’s gaze dodged, daring not look at him.
Only when their gazes met by chance would she appear hesitant to speak, her red lips trembling slightly, her eyes widening a bit.
This was the sister he wanted to protect in this life.
Ying Xi couldn’t stand this expression. He waved his hand, telling Jinxiang and the others to stop first. “Why are you dressed like this? Huachao, speak for yourself.”
“Your Majesty…”
She looked up and took a deep breath.
Seeing everyone, even the eunuchs and maids doing chores in Yichun Palace, quietly staring at her, waiting for her answer.
Princess Huachao exhaled a long breath and shouted loudly: “Huachao lost her manners before the Emperor; a woman’s appearance is unkempt, greatly damaging the dignity of the Court. I implore Imperial Brother to lock sister into the Court of the Imperial Clan for punishment!!!”
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