A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 30.1

The Great Lin is located in the central part of the continent, enjoying four distinct seasons and an abundance of resources.

Unlike Northern Yong, where winters are severely cold and long, or Southern Zhou, which has a humid and hot climate with extended summers, the Great Lin is also free from the constant distress of sea winds that plague Eastern Yin.

It is a nation of strategic geographical importance, with naturally fortified terrain, allowing it to flourish and thrive.

Northern Yong has launched repeated punitive expeditions, attempting to occupy Central Lin territory, but all have been in vain.

The next two or three years passed with unexpected calm, only occasionally sprouting minor incidents.

The Central Lin and Northern Yong territories are separated by a wilderness and desert, but also vast grasslands and meadows, home to scattered nomadic tribes. Recently, urgent military reports from the North indicated that the three tribes of Kui Rong, Qiu Di, and Xi Ma Nuo intended to annex other smaller tribes, bolster their strength, and had formed an alliance, constantly harassing the northern border.

Central Lin’s vassal state, Southern Zhou, was also in chaos.

The King of Southern Zhou was gravely ill, and the crown should have passed to the Southern Zhou Heir, Liang Qiu Ting. However, his illegitimate elder brother, Liang Qiu Feng, preemptively seized control of the Southern Zhou court and publicly usurped the throne.

Fortunately, the North was guarded by Chen Linjun, and the South by the Marquis Lu Ping, Heng Ji Nan, so apart from occasional disturbances, the realm was generally peaceful.

Domestically, the severe silting of the river channels in Hezhou was a major concern. Xie Yuan recommended Cheng Ling Dian, the Director of Waterways from the Ministry of Water Conservancy, to Emperor Xuanyuan to go to Hezhou to dredge the channels, mitigate blockages, and reinforce the riverbanks, which proved quite effective.

After his term ended, Cheng Ling Dian was transferred to become the Prefect of Yong’an, becoming a key subordinate to Xie Yuan.

The Prince Shen’s prestige in the court grew daily, yet he strictly adhered to his duty as a minister and younger brother, never overstepping his bounds. The Crown Prince remained securely seated in the Eastern Palace.

Everything remained balanced, a rare period of tranquility.

This veneer of peace was shattered by the appearance of a banned book.

In the twentieth year of Xuanyuan’s reign, the book Discourse on Women (Nü Lun), authored by the executed former Director of the Imperial College, Yao Ji Feng, made a sudden resurgence in Central Lin.

This occurred just as Xie Wenjun’s period of mourning came to an end.

Almost overnight, this banned book spread like wildfire, blossoming everywhere.

Naturally, it once again became the focus of discussion among the scholars in Yongdu.

Old Dowager’s Seventieth Birthday

On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, it was the seventieth birthday of the Old Dowager of the Eastern Residence.

Many aristocratic young ladies in Yongdu had received her instruction and guidance; the Old Dowager was highly reputed in Yongdu. Her milestone birthday attracted guests who were all high-ranking officials and court-appointed noblewomen.

Many of them brought their eligible daughters along, hoping the Old Dowager would take notice. If a girl received even a word or two of praise from the Old Dowager, matchmakers would soon be knocking down their doors.

Even Madame He Yun Zhou, a Marquise’s wife who usually resided in the Buddhist hall accompanying the blue lamp and ancient Buddha, dressed early, prepared her gifts, and went to the Eastern Residence to offer her birthday wishes to the Old Dowager.

Chen Luan had long since reached the age of majority. For these past few years, he had been studying in Cangnan, and his marriage had not yet been settled. Seeing that he would become an unmarried bachelor if he didn’t marry soon, she was inevitably anxious.

By attending the Old Dowager’s birthday, she was also planning to sound out suitable young women and settle the marriage as soon as possible.

Idle Chatter Between Sisters-in-Law

Mother Shan found Chen Liangyu at Yan Nian’s place, summoning the two of them to join the Marquise for the trip to the Eastern Residence.

At the time, Chen Liangyu was chatting with Yan Nian.

Yan Nian was pregnant. The northern border often saw the mounted bandits of Kui Rong and Xi Ma Nuo entering the city to plunder wealth, often resulting in bloodshed.

After Yan Nian, supporting her waist, drew her sword and killed two horse thieves who were looting the common people, her pulse remained unstable. Chen Linjun, fearing the sight of blood would cause complications, sent her back to Yongdu to rest and stabilize her pregnancy.

The two sisters-in-law, having been apart for a long time, were inseparable, chatting endlessly all day.

Mentioning Xie Wenjun, Chen Liangyu counted on her fingers, “Counting the days, it’s been three years since Empress Huixian passed away. It’s about time for Princess Jiangning to return to the palace from the Grand Harmony Temple.”

Yan Nian was surprised and asked, “Didn’t you used to dislike the Princess? I’ve heard you mention her quite a bit lately.”

“Ha, the first time I saw her, she was only this tall,” Chen Liangyu stood up and gestured to her stomach, “and she stabbed a Northern Yong deserter to death with a hairpin. I’ve seen so many new recruits shake uncontrollably, weak in the knees, or even break down crying when they went into battle for the first time. She was completely calm.”

This was indeed strange. Yan Nian asked in surprise, “Didn’t you kill the man?”

Chen Liangyu spread her hands, “Everyone, including you, Sister-in-law, assumed without asking that I killed the deserter. Who would ever suspect her? But the truth is, she was the one who stabbed him, and I just took the blame for her.”

“I didn’t know about this, nor did I hear you mention it.”

“No one asked me either. Although he was a Northern Yong bandit, it wouldn’t sound good if word got out that the Princess killed someone. The Crown Prince just gave a look, and the subordinates naturally knew what to do. One more or one less dead bandit from Northern Yong by my hand doesn’t matter much. Besides, on that day, apart from those few Northern Yong deserters, only the Princess and I were present. Putting the blame on me was the most suitable choice. Should I have gone around shouting for justice in the streets?”

Chen Liangyu explained her thoughts.

“It’s not that I’m wary of her. She looks exactly like the little attendant by the Bodhisattva in a temple in the west, completely harmless. Who would have thought she could be so swift with a hairpin?”

“Then why are you so concerned about Princess Jiangning’s affairs now?”

“I just feel sorry for her being so young…”

Chen Liangyu lowered her head and mumbled with a light sigh, seemingly unaware of the current year and date, and thus hadn’t calculated that Princess Jiangning was now sixteen years old.

“Empress Huixian was a pitiful woman. I promised her Ladyship upon her deathbed, and since I agreed, I must see it through. I don’t want the deceased to rest uneasily.”

A Chance Encounter

The carriage from the Xun Residence also stopped at the door. The curtain was lifted, and a young woman was seated gracefully inside.

She was dignified, elegant, and perfectly mannered.

“Liangyu, come ride with me.”

Even Xun Shuheng’s voice was gentle and graceful.

She was also accompanying the wife of Prime Minister Xun to offer birthday congratulations to the Old Dowager. Since the two residences faced each other and they were traveling the same route, the choice of whose carriage to take was insignificant.

Chen Liangyu informed her mother and Yan Nian and climbed into the Xun family’s carriage. “A-Heng.”

Xun Shuheng and the Prime Minister’s wife rode in separate carriages. She sat alone on the soft couch inside, which was covered with a tiger skin rug. In front of her were several exquisite pastries and an incense burner. She slowly waved her sleeve over the smoke, scenting her clothes with an elegant fragrance.

As the carriage moved, she beckoned Chen Liangyu to sit closer.