A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 17

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month was the Lantern Festival (Shangyuan Jie).

The curfew in Shangyong City was lifted. Flower lanterns were hung everywhere on the trees along the streets, along with cloth streamers carrying riddles.

On this day, ordinary families in the city could take the elderly and the young out of their homes, walk onto the streets, and freely enjoy the lanterns and festivities.

Chen Liangyu changed into a casual scholar’s gown but still wore her saber as she patrolled the streets.

Tomorrow was the day of Chen Linjun’s wedding. The family was busy preparing. Initially, her eldest brother and sister-in-law suggested canceling the wedding, as having a joyous event while their distant kin, the Chen clan of Cangnan, was in mourning seemed inappropriate.

Chen Yuanqing remained silent for a long time before emphatically concluding, “Proceed! Carry it out as planned.”

The Lantern Festival was a major occasion, and a large concentration of refugees was camped outside the city. Fearing trouble, the manpower of the Sixteen Guards was insufficient. They temporarily added personnel, forcing Chen Liangyu to put public duty before private affairs and lead a patrol as ordered.

The people who had been sent to assist Xie Yuan in appeasing the refugees, including Gao Guan, were also recalled. Even Ying Rui, a cleaner and general assistant, was pressed into service; equipped with a saber, he looked quite respectable.

Ying Rui was excited and fascinated by everything. Seeing the dragon and lion dances, he wished he could jump into the lion’s skin and join the fun.

“Boss,” he said, walking alongside Chen Liangyu and sharing gossip he’d heard, “Prince Shen was reprimanded by the Emperor.”

“Why?”

“That night, there was a sudden heavy rain. Prince Shen led the refugees to the Emperor’s temporary palace, ordered the demolition of a half-built hall there, salvaged the dry wood for firewood, and used it to dry the refugees’ clothes and warm them. Before dawn the next day, the palace eunuchs took him away. When he returned, I noticed his expression was quite poor. I asked around and found out the Emperor was furious and gave His Highness a severe scolding.”

Ying Rui grew increasingly indignant and confused as he spoke. “That was a good deed! His Highness did something good, so why was he scolded? Vice Commander Gao was also implicated and fined half a month’s salary! What kind of justice is that?”

Chen Liangyu had heard about this.

The Emperor’s authority must not be challenged. Dismantling the Emperor’s palace to provide fire for commoners, when spoken of seriously, was a sign of disrespect for the hierarchy and a slight to the sovereign.

A stern reprimand was already the lightest possible punishment.

Although everything sounded reasonable, she sensed many incongruities. As Ying Rui said, showing concern for the populace and performing a good deed, yet facing censure—it seemed improper and out of place!

Furthermore, he was injured.

“His Highness must feel quite wronged,” she murmured.

A Chance Encounter and a Fortune Teller

Passing a vendor selling steaming hot glutinous rice balls (yuanxiao), they ran into Gao Guan’s team.

Gao Guan grunted, plopped down on a stool, and called out, “Vendor, five… no, six, seven bowls of yuanxiao, with plenty of soup!” He waved for Chen Liangyu to sit down. “Commander, don’t talk about His Highness. I’m wronged, too! All the brothers are wronged! Dammit, we toiled for days, just got the refugees under control, and now, for the sake of this lousy festival, we’re all called back to watch worthless lanterns, while the Imperial Guard was dispatched to the outside! The North Yamen’s bunch snatched the credit for our sleepless efforts!”

The yuanxiao were quickly served. The smooth, soft rice balls settled neatly in the soup.

Chen Liangyu scooped one onto her spoon, blew on it, and bit down. The smooth, rich flavor filled her mouth.

“The credit belongs where it’s due. Rewards and punishments are not always apparent on the surface.”

Gao Guan wolfed down his portion. The small bowl of yuanxiao was gone in a few bites. “Our Sixteen Guards were once the glorious Imperial Guard. We’ve fallen from grace, reduced to street patrolmen.”

Chen Liangyu smiled. “I will bring back your glory.”

Gao Guan quickly gulped down the hot soup. Unwilling to delay too long, he grabbed his saber and prepared to patrol elsewhere. “Forget glory, Commander. I just got fined, so this round is on you.”

“Hey,” Chen Liangyu sighed. They finished eating and left, leaving Chen Liangyu and Ying Rui in confusion in front of the stall.

“Who hasn’t been fined?” she muttered.

Ying Rui quickly buried his head in his bowl. “Boss, don’t look at me. I only have a couple of copper coins. I have old parents but no kids; please don’t target me.”

Chen Liangyu sighed. She couldn’t rely on any of them!

Just as she paid and was about to leave, she was blocked by a beggar.

His eyes were cloudy, his hair messy like a nest of weeds covering his head. More notably, the man had no forearms. Both arms were severed cleanly a few inches below the elbow joint.

Chen Liangyu immediately deduced that this was not a birth defect; the wounds were made by a sharp blade.

The beggar’s gaze scanned Chen Liangyu from head to toe with ill intent.

Despite growing up in the military camp, she was still a woman. Chen Liangyu felt uncomfortable under his rude scrutiny. Just as she was about to lash out, the man spoke first: “Is the young woman from Chen Chongming’s family?”

Hearing him use Chen Yuanqing’s courtesy name, Chen Liangyu subconsciously tightened her grip on her saber as a defensive measure, but then her gaze fell on the empty sleeves, and she slightly relaxed her hand on the sword.

“That is correct,” she replied. “May I ask who you are and what your purpose is?”

The beggar said, “An old acquaintance. Now I’m down on my luck. I know my life is short. I am asking for a few ounces of silver to prepare for my funeral.”

“Since you are an old acquaintance of my father’s, why not come to my home for tea?”

“No need. Just a few ounces of silver, and I will be on my way.”

“May I ask your name, honored sir?”

The beggar seemed annoyed by her many questions. “If you are unwilling to give, I will take my leave.”

“Wait,” Chen Liangyu said, patting the beggar’s shoulder. With a slight exertion of force, her palm was actually knocked away.

This person possesses internal energy.

Chen Liangyu removed the jade hair clasp from her head. “The few copper coins I have on me today were only enough to buy a bowl of yuanxiao. Take this to the pawnshop; it should fetch some silver. Regardless of whether you are truly an old friend of my father or a street impostor, out of respect for your knowledge of my father’s courtesy name, the cost of your funeral will be borne by the Chen family.”

The beggar gave a “Haha” laugh, accepted the hair clasp, and walked slowly into the bright lights.

The full moon was dazzling, complementing the vibrant, sleepless city below.

Chen Liangyu looked up at the moon, marveling at the splendor of the moonlight.

Lowering her head, she spotted Xie Wenjun in the crowd.

Trailing behind her was the peculiar-looking little eunuch, Wei.

After the New Year’s Eve palace banquet, the Crown Prince sent people to escort her back to the East Palace. Chen Liangyu had assumed Princess Jiangning’s martial arts training was over, and they would be separated by the palace walls, never to meet again.

Yet, here they met.

Xie Wenjun walked towards her. “On patrol?”

What else would I be doing? Shopping?

Chen Liangyu bowed and asked, “Princess Jiangning, why are you out of the palace?”

“Naturally, I sneaked out, hiding it from my Imperial Brother. The palace gates close one hour later tonight for the Lantern Festival. I just need to get back before the gates are locked.”

“I have yet to properly thank Princess Jiangning and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

Xie Wenjun pulled her cloak tighter. “Why thank us?”

“Did His Royal Highness send the Princess to the Marquis’s Residence merely for martial arts training? I fear the situation was orchestrated from the start, waiting for the right moment for the Princess to advise me to abandon my kin and protect my father and brothers.” Chen Liangyu continued, “If the Crown Prince intends to cut the Northern Frontier defenses and disperse my father’s and brothers’ military power, he could just say so. Why all this elaborate maneuvering?”

“Watch your words!”

“I know my transgression.” Chen Liangyu bowed to apologize. “Since I received the Princess’s and the Crown Prince’s warning, allow me to add one more thing: A sovereign is a sovereign. The Heir Apparent is also a subject of the Emperor.”

From an absolute position of power, even the most profound strategies and schemes can be shattered with a single Imperial Edict.

If the Crown Prince successfully cuts military power from Emperor Xuanyuan today, will he grow ambitious and seek the throne tomorrow?

How can a King tolerate others sleeping soundly beside his bed?

Chen Liangyu bowed again, sincerely asking for forgiveness. “I have overstepped my bounds.”

“I will definitely relay these words to my Imperial Brother.” Xie Wenjun, caught up in the excitement of the lantern festival, said, “Since you are on patrol tonight, you shall guard my safety.”

Chen Liangyu said, “I accept the command.”

The crowd was bustling. Fearing she might be abducted by criminals like she was last autumn, Chen Liangyu did not dare take her eyes off her for a moment.

The Oracle

An old Taoist priest had spread out an Eight Trigrams diagram by the roadside, holding a fortune-telling banner. Whenever someone passed by, he loudly called out, “I tell fortunes for marriage, palm reading, career, and wealth! If it’s not accurate, you don’t pay!”

Xie Wenjun paused in front of the stall and looked at it briefly.

The old Taoist priest greeted her enthusiastically. “What would the noble lady like to know? I am nicknamed ‘Yellow Half-Immortal’! If it’s not accurate, you don’t pay!”

Xie Wenjun asked, “What do women usually ask about?”

“Women, naturally, mostly ask about marriage.”

“Then tell my fortune for marriage.”

The old Taoist priest took out a brush, dipped it in ink, and handed it over. “Noble lady, please write your birth date and time on this leather paper.”

Xie Wenjun wrote them down truthfully.

The old Taoist priest took the paper and studied it intently, lifting his head to look at Xie Wenjun three or five times. His grey eyebrows furrowed tightly, and the wrinkles on his face clustered together.

Ying Rui pouted. “Could it be that the noble lady’s fate is too complicated for even your ‘Half-Immortal’ self to calculate?”

The old Taoist priest blinked his bright little eyes, speaking mysteriously:

“In the crowd, a smile passes with a glance, The human countenance becomes dust.”

Self-parting anticipating return in three years, A single intoxication upon reunion sparks love.

Noble lady, your marriage is Heaven-ordained. You share a bond with the one your heart loves. It is truly a beautiful story.”

He said ‘a beautiful story’ with hesitation, as if the words were forced out through his teeth.

Chen Liangyu shook her head. These people who live by their mouths always say nice, auspicious things to please people.

She thought Xie Wenjun was about to leave and stepped forward first.

However, Xie Wenjun did not move.

“Then tell me, where is the person destined for me now?”

The old Taoist priest tightly shut his mouth, refusing to speak further. “It cannot be said. The secrets of Heaven must not be revealed.”

Ying Rui took two steps closer to the stall. “Are you just unable to tell? ‘Yellow Half-Immortal’ indeed. ‘Weasel’ might be closer to the truth.”

The old Taoist priest huffed angrily. “Young man, you can insult me, but you cannot question the Will of Heaven.”

“Then tell us.”

“I cannot.”

Xie Wenjun motioned behind her. The little eunuch Wei understood and took out a gold ingot, placing it on top of the pile of scribbles on the table.

The old Taoist priest’s eyes widened, darting towards the gold ingot. Perhaps judging that the secret of Heaven was worth ten ounces of gold, he made up his mind, stomped his foot, and declared, “As distant as the moon in the sky, as close as the person before your eyes.”

He struck his ruler and pointed directly.

Chen Liangyu frowned, instantly judging him to be a charlatan. She inadvertently saw the blushing Ying Rui next to her, shyly rubbing the back of his head. “M-me? I can’t. I’m just a cleaner. How could I… how could I be worthy of…”

The old Taoist priest’s mouth twitched a few times. He spoke clearly, “Not you! I meant the person next to you.” He then added to Ying Rui, “A toad trying to eat swan meat.”

Ying Rui immediately stepped forward to flip the stall but was pulled back by Chen Liangyu. It wouldn’t do for the patrol to start fighting with the people when there was no public disturbance.

“Boss, he called me a toad! Those things are ugly and covered in bumps! I’m at least a frog, right?”

“A frog. You’re a frog.”

The old Taoist priest rolled his eyes and said, “They’re the same species.” He then pursed his lips and reached for the gold ingot.

Chen Liangyu “Ha!” let out a light laugh and, with quick reflexes, blocked the hand reaching for the gold with the hilt of her saber.

“You couldn’t even tell I’m a woman. Why pretend to be a shaman?”

“You are clearly a woman,” the old Taoist priest stroked his sparse, grey-flecked beard, justifying himself. “A Heaven-ordained marriage has nothing to do with gender!”

Nonsense!

Chen Liangyu scoffed. Xie Wenjun, however, seemed very pleased. With a wave of her hand, she awarded the gold ingot to the old Taoist priest.

Chen Liangyu kindly reminded her, “Princess, you have likely been deceived by that old Taoist.”

Xie Wenjun was unconcerned. “It’s buying good luck and happiness.”

Lanterns of Aspiration and Farewell

The bank of the Xuishui River was the perfect place for releasing lanterns.

They released river lanterns and Kongming lanterns (sky lanterns).

Releasing sky lanterns on the Lantern Festival was a very old custom with two meanings: First, wishing prosperity for the living; second, sending condolences to the deceased.

Wishes and thoughts are written on the lanterns. The farther the lantern floats, the more likely the wish is to be fulfilled, and the more likely the departed loved ones are to see it.

Clusters of Kongming lanterns, carrying people’s hopes, slowly ascended, as if illuminating countless stars in the sky.

The warm yellow paper of the lantern in Chen Liangyu’s hand glowed. It was an empty lantern; she had written nothing on it.

Chen Liangyu put her hands together in front of her chest, closed her eyes, and silently prayed, “May conflict cease throughout the world. May wars end, calamities be averted, and the country enjoy peace and stability.”

Xie Wenjun held a brush. “Why release a blank lantern?”

Chen Liangyu shook her head.

“Then I will help you write.”

Xie Wenjun wielded the brush and wrote. Chen Liangyu tilted her head, trying to see what she had written, but Xie Wenjun quickly covered it with her hand.

How stingy.

When the Kongming lantern in Xie Wenjun’s hand lit up, two lines of delicate characters were illuminated by the dim, yellow light of the wick.

Chen Liangyu froze slightly when she saw the two lines of text.

Then, she gave a self-deprecating smile.

The lantern left her hand, wobbling as it flew towards the misty moonlight, quickly merging into the endless stream of lanterns in the sky, becoming indistinguishable from the rest.

That day in the library, when Xie Wenjun suddenly mentioned the battle at Ma Tie Valley in Qilian Pass, the Princess had noticed her momentary distress.

It was just that Xie Wenjun had been tactful enough not to point it out at the time.

Chen Liangyu looked up at the sky. Xie Wenjun looked up at her.

“Do you really have to marry my third brother?”

Chen Liangyu suspected she had been instructed by someone to test her, so she gave a non-committal answer. “My marriage, your Majesty must still approve it.”

Xie Wenjun was silent for a while, then lit another lantern. Like the one Chen Liangyu had just released, it was a blank lantern.

“Then I wish you,” the Kongming lantern left her palm, “May your wish be fulfilled!”

On the Lantern Festival of the 17th year of Xuanyuan, two sky lanterns were released by the Xuishui River.

The first, wishing your thoughts be thought.

The second, wishing your wish be fulfilled.