A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 1

The first time Chen Liangyu and Xie Wenjun met was in the sixteenth year of Xuanyuan, during the height of autumn.

There was little rain that year, and the autumn wind always carried a sense of desolation.

The decade-long war between the Great Lin Dynasty and Northern Yong had finally ceased, but life remained far from peaceful.

The dust-clearing feast was meant to welcome the generals and soldiers home. However, Chen Liangyu, who had earned the greatest merit, was dispatched from the military camp immediately after returning to Yongdu with her father and brothers, due to the decree: “A woman may not see the Holy Countenance without a summons.” She was sent back to the inner chambers of her family residence with her mother.

As dusk approached, Jing Ming, the second-in-command to her older brother, Chen Linjun, suddenly galloped back to the manor, urging Chen Liangyu to rush to the Northern Outskirts Grand Camp immediately, saying the Emperor had summoned her.

Chen Liangyu hastily changed into an outfit suitable for an audience with the Emperor and hurried out of the city.

The night was drawing near, the curfew drum sounded, and the city’s clamor gradually faded, quietly settling in the courtyards. The streets and alleys of Yongdu were silent, as if muted.

“Giddy up!”

The sound of horse hooves, urgent and rapid, came from far away. A chestnut warhorse carried the young woman, galloping quickly.

A troop of men in silver light armor followed closely behind. The sudden rush of wind brushed past her ears, lifting her hair and revealing a face with deep-set features, yet still carrying a trace of youthful innocence.

The red-maned horse was powerful. Before long, Chen Liangyu had distanced herself from the men behind. She turned her head to check on them, her eyes inadvertently scanning a deep alleyway, where she spotted several suspicious figures. She immediately grew wary.

With a jerk of the reins, Chen Liangyu heard the horse neigh and brought all four hooves to a steady stop on the spot.

The sky was getting darker, making it hard to see clearly. She frowned and looked again. The men on horseback had already caught up to her side.

“What are you looking at?” Jing Ming glanced towards where she was staring.

Chen Liangyu raised her horsewhip and pointed, “There, a few shadows just flashed by. They looked like people from Northern Yong, carrying a bundle of something.”

It looked like a sack, or perhaps a human shape.

The figures merely flashed past, but it was enough for her to be ninety percent certain. It wasn’t that she possessed unique discernment; it was simply that Northern Yong people had a very distinctive way of walking. She had often mocked that the Northern Yong soldiers looked like normal humans when sitting or lying still, but the moment they walked a couple of steps, they looked like bears that had transformed into demons from the deep mountains.

Jing Ming looked again, seeing only a long, narrow, dark alley. Where were the people?

He said, “It hasn’t been long since Northern Yong submitted their letter of surrender. They wouldn’t dare cause trouble in Yongdu right now.”

Chen Liangyu felt a surge of doubt and was about to dismount to investigate when her collar tightened. Jing Ming’s large hand had grabbed her, hoisting her back like a chick by the throat.

Jing Ming said, “Miss, the Marquis hasn’t returned to court for a long time, and now that his merits are great, people are watching for any misstep. You must not delay the Emperor’s summons!”

Chen Liangyu looked up at the pole star, then surveyed the surroundings, noting the approximate location. This was her first time back in Yongdu, and she was unfamiliar with the roads. She hadn’t expected such a run-down corner in the prosperous and bustling capital.

“Jing Ming, what place is this? So desolate.”

Jing Ming replied, “This area mostly consists of civilian houses requisitioned during the years of great disaster and temporarily used as places of refuge. During the disaster years, the dead weren’t properly buried. Their remains were wrapped in straw mats and casually interred in shallow pits. After several outbreaks of plague, the original inhabitants slowly moved away, and it has been abandoned ever since. Now, only a few groups of beggars shelter here. There are several such places in Yongdu; it’s nothing strange.” He urged Chen Liangyu, “We must leave the city before the gates close.”

It was almost the end of the Xu hour (7 to 9 PM) when they reached the North City Gate, yet there was no sign of it closing.

The stone plaque hanging above the gate was engraved with the grand, ink-brush characters ‘Yongdu’. There was an unusual commotion among the guards beneath the plaque, and there were significantly more soldiers stationed there than during the day.

Jing Ming showed the city guard the tally (or official pass). The guard looked them up and down a few times, bowed with a smile, and let them through.

By the time Chen Liangyu and Jing Ming arrived at the Northern Outskirts Grand Camp, the dust-clearing feast was three rounds of wine deep. Emperor Xuanyuan was speaking intimately with Chen Yuanqing. After paying her respects, Emperor Xuanyuan carefully examined her. She wore a simple, dark blue robe, her hair tied up without elaborate adornment, save for an eagle-head clasp on her left shoulder and a band of plain silver wrist guards on her sleeves.

After a long appraisal, Emperor Xuanyuan seemed quite satisfied. He turned to Chen Yuanqing and said, “‘Liangyu’ (Fine Jade) is unpolished, yet beauty is inherent. I remember bestowing the name ‘Liangyu’ upon her in the second year of Xuanyuan—you had a great victory on the front lines, and Yun Zhou gave birth to this daughter. Double blessings. Now, at less than sixteen years old, she possesses such courage, turning the tide with three thousand remnants. She surpasses how many of our Great Lin’s sons! Commendable! Remarkable!”

Chen Liangyu stood up, knelt, and bowed deeply again, saying, “Your Majesty’s praise frightens your subject-daughter. The Battle of Dingbei was preceded by my father and the generals fighting to the death, exhausting Northern Yong’s troops and morale. My brother led reinforcements, intercepting and killing the enemy forces. The soldiers have toiled greatly. Your subject-daughter dares not claim the entire merit.”

“Hahahaha, well said!” Emperor Xuanyuan was very pleased with her steady remark, raised his cup, and drank it all. He then said to Chen Yuanqing, “She is also reaching the age for marriage.”

The face of the Left Prime Minister, Xun Xian, grew longer than a donkey.

Emperor Xuanyuan had lost six children and was now left with only four sons and one daughter. Jiangning Princess Xie Wenjun was young and a female, so she was naturally out of the question. Among the four sons, Prince Qi, Xie Xuan, was already married to a proper consort; Prince Ning, Xie Xun, was foolish. Only the widowed Crown Prince, Xie Yu, and Prince Shen, Xie Yuan, remained whose marriages were yet to be discussed.

But Prince Shen was unambitious and without brilliant achievements. Chen Yuanqing was always highly regarded by Emperor Xuanyuan. The Emperor’s mention of marriage honestly showed that he had the intention of choosing the next Crown Princess.

The discord between Xun Xian and Chen Yuanqing was no secret among their senior colleagues. When the two served together in court, Xun Xian would always compete with Chen Yuanqing for superiority in everything. Yet, the residences of the Marquis of Xuanping and the Xun Manor were on the same street, with their main gates directly across from each other. For the past sixteen years, Chen Yuanqing had been stationed in the northern borders and had not returned, which allowed Xun Xian to enjoy peace. Now that Chen Yuanqing was back, wouldn’t they be seeing each other all the time—lifting their heads, seeing each other, or if not, seeing each other at the gate? Just thinking about it felt dreadful.

Now it seemed that the dreadful matters were far more than just one.

If Chen Yuanqing’s daughter became the Crown Princess, and the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the Chen family daughter would be the Empress. Wouldn’t Xun Xian be perpetually beneath Chen Yuanqing?

Chen Yuanqing spoke indifferently, “My family has few descendants, only the two siblings. Linjun is already married and has a family. Their mother wishes to keep her by her side for two more years, so the matter of marriage is not urgent.”

Hearing that Chen Yuanqing and Emperor Xuanyuan did not immediately agree, Xun Xian wiped off a cold sweat.

Chen Liangyu was also sweating profusely. The discussion of her marriage was happening without a single person asking the opinion of the party involved. While her mind was wandering, Emperor Xuanyuan did not pursue the topic. After a moment of thought, he opened his mouth and said, “The Commander of the Sixteen Guards returned to his hometown a few days ago. Are you willing to take the post?”

This question was directed at Chen Liangyu.

She had not yet had a chance to reply, and Xun Xian’s face became even longer.

Xun Xian tapped his chopsticks to signal the Right Prime Minister, Zhang Diancheng, who was sitting next to him. Seeing Zhang Diancheng remain impassive, Xun Xian tucked up his robes, tiptoed, and knelt before the imperial seat. “Your Majesty, our dynasty has never had a precedent for a woman serving as an official. This violates the rites and laws of our ancestors and goes against the rules of heaven and earth. This action is improper. The Chen family daughter has merit and should be rewarded. In your subject’s opinion, bestowing her with treasures, jewelry, and fine fabrics that young women love would be the best policy.”

Chen Yuanqing adjusted his robe and sat upright. He glanced at his ‘old friend’ whom he hadn’t seen for over a decade and also said, “Your Majesty, this indeed goes against the rules.”

But he said it without any intention of stopping it.

Xun Xian naturally saw that Chen Yuanqing was only being polite and making a false refusal to the Emperor.

As expected, Emperor Xuanyuan waved his hand and said, “Oh, whose rules does it violate? If I say it is according to the rules, then it is according to the rules!” He then asked Chen Liangyu again, “I am asking you, are you willing to take the position?”

Chen Liangyu immediately understood the situation. She quickly snatched the opportunity to speak before Xun Xian could object again, knelt, and kowtowed, “Your subject accepts the command and thanks Your Majesty for the imperial grace!”

Xun Xian loudly shouted, “Your Majesty, no!” Being advanced in age, his reaction was not as quick as the younger person’s. After Chen Liangyu completed her acceptance and gratitude with seamless grace, the voice of Minister Xun’s objection abruptly rang out.

Emperor Xuanyuan’s expression was already displeased. With anger, he said, “The laws of our dynasty dictate reward for merit and punishment for crime. I am rewarding merit. How does this violate the rites and laws of the ancestors or the rules of heaven and earth?”

Xun Xian said, “Merit should naturally be rewarded, but a woman entering the court is unheard of throughout history. It is truly the hen crowing the dawn, which will invite unwarranted disaster. Please reconsider, Your Majesty!” He then slammed his head onto the ground, performing a resounding kowtow.

He’s quite bold for his age, not even afraid of hurting himself, Chen Liangyu thought to herself.

But what logic is there in relying on one’s advanced age and years of experience in court to sell one’s old face and block a person’s future? The hen is not without a throat. Why can’t it crow the dawn?

Emperor Xuanyuan looked at the officials and said sternly, “Is this what all you ministers think?”

After a moment, several more people successively knelt in the open space amidst the banquet. Emperor Xuanyuan rose, sweeping his gaze across the ministers. Unable to withstand the pressure of the imperial presence, the officials lowered their heads, daring not to look up and commit an offense. Many also glanced left and right, trying to gauge Chen Yuanqing’s expression.

Chen Yuanqing observed everything, remaining silent, and drank another goblet of wine.

“I am bestowing a reward. Why are you all looking at the Marquis of Xuanping?”

Emperor Xuanyuan suddenly smiled, pointing at the hall below with suppressed anger. “You group of old ministers, the merit of repelling the enemy is a thousand-year achievement! If she were a man, she would be promoted to a major general. Would you then complain to me? Are you using the ancestral rites and laws to pressure me?”

Silence reigned below.

“Right Prime Minister, what is your opinion?” Emperor Xuanyuan turned to Zhang Diancheng, who had yet to express a stance.

Zhang Diancheng, who was sitting out of the affair and planning to watch Xun Xian ruin himself, was suddenly called upon. He hastily got up and bowed, saying, “Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject believes that talent is worthy of use, regardless of gender? With Your Majesty’s divine will, your subject has no objection.”

“Tsk!”

Xun Xian glared indignantly at Zhang Diancheng, showing his displeasure. Zhang Diancheng returned a look of annoyance.

Emperor Xuanyuan’s expression finally eased after hearing this statement. He turned to Chen Liangyu and said, “Chen Liangyu, you see,” he pointed across the hall, “This task, do you dare accept it?”

What did she have to fear? She had already thanked him earlier. Did it not count?

No matter. Thanking him once more wouldn’t hurt. So, she kowtowed three more times, “Your subject accepts the decree and thanks Your Majesty for the imperial grace!”

With a minor commotion over, the bonfire burned brighter, and the scent of wine made people dizzy. Chen Liangyu was finally allowed to sit. She took her seat beside her older brother and told him about the suspicious sight in the alley earlier. After recounting the event, she did not forget to report Jing Ming, “I wanted to follow and find out what it was, but Jing Ming stopped me.”

Some people at the banquet had no mind to eat meat or drink wine anymore.

The flames greedily licked the air, causing one’s vision to become wavy and distorted. Crown Prince Xie Yu left the feast without a sound.

Chen Linjun’s expression turned serious upon hearing the story. He pulled her, signaling her to follow him. Further away from the bonfire banquet, a man dressed as an Eastern Palace Guard hurried over and whispered something to the Crown Prince at close range.

“Have you found her?” the Crown Prince asked, his mind anxious.

The Eastern Palace Guard shook his head, kneeling down to await punishment.

Chen Liangyu looked up at the long night. The stars flickered. Everything between the sun and the moon was in a state of turmoil.

Life in Yongdu was also difficult to keep stable.

Just today, the Crown Prince’s youngest sister, Jiangning Princess Xie Wenjun, whom he had personally raised, had disappeared in Yongdu. The Eastern Palace had ordered the Imperial Guard to search secretly throughout Yongdu.

The Jiangning Princess had left the palace in plain clothes around noon. To avoid attracting attention, she had only brought a few close attendants for protection. By midday, while Xie Wenjun rewarded the guards with a cup of wine, she was nowhere to be found.

Normally, the palace rules were strict. Today, the return of the grand army was a great occasion, which was why she was specially permitted to leave the palace to watch.

Who knew that this one exception would lead to trouble.