A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 64

Initial Impressions

Respectful and courteous, yet keeping her distance.

She was even less intimate with her than with the Miss Xun she was secretly competing with.

Yan Nian had briefly considered that the difference in their ages might be the reason for the lack of ease she felt compared to interacting with peers. However, after walking with her for a while today, she deeply understood the unapproachable aura exuded by Xie Wenjun.

It was like having thorns on her back, making her uneasy.

The chill in her eyes only lasted for a moment. Xie Wenjun maintained her usual humble and polite demeanor towards Yan Nian. A little later, she inquired about the new channel for the Tianqian River, asking, “I heard from Ah Li that Madam intends to carve a new channel from the Tianqian River to control the flood disaster?”

Yan Nian replied, “Flood control is only one aspect. The second is that there are tens of thousands of acres of unowned wasteland in the hundred-mile border region of Dongyin. Your subject’s wife went to see it. That land is suitable for growing grain, but the soil lacks moisture, so even if it were cultivated, the harvest would be poor. Your subject’s wife suspects that because the yield doesn’t cover the capital required for reclamation, Dongyin has allowed the land to remain desolate. After carving the new channel, we will build dams, repair drainage ditches, and divert the floodwaters of the Tianqian River eastward. This will both drain the floods and irrigate the land. Conservatively speaking, it could reclaim ten thousand acres of fertile land.”

Yan Nian wanted to say more, but on second thought, the words she was about to utter might be viewed as a critique of state affairs. If others heard it, it could be seen as the Marquis Xuanping’s Mansion harboring dissatisfaction with the court.

And the person who might harbor such dissatisfaction was sitting right in front of her.

Xie Wenjun was no mere figurehead. With the establishment of the Department of Agriculture and Sericulture, the Ten Thousand Officials Register grant, and the formation of her own personal guard, she now held real power in the court. If Xie Wenjun were not a person of broad mind, her words might be detrimental to Chen Liangyu and Chen Luan in the court.

With this in mind, Yan Nian held back her inner thoughts.

Xie Wenjun sat upright, waited for a moment, and seemed to smile, saying, “Madam still has something more to say.”

Yan Nian said, “Your subject’s wife dares not to criticize state affairs rashly.”

Xie Wenjun asked, “Madam wishes to say that since the court has land, why does it not return the land to the people, but instead divide it among the officials and gentry? Is that correct? And Madam’s concern for those tens of thousands of acres is also due to the desire to distribute them to the common people for cultivation?”

Yan Nian replied, “The Princess Royal is astute.” She paused, saying, “The populace has lost their land, the tenant farmer population has rapidly increased, and they are unable to eat their fill all day. Your subject’s wife cannot bear it.”

Xie Wenjun said, “If aristocratic families and gentry are not afraid of the court’s laws and continue to brazenly encroach upon the people’s land, even if the land is returned to the populace, how long will it remain in their hands? If the locusts are not eliminated, how can the people be well-fed?”

At the Palace

The carriage could not enter the Forbidden Palace. After passing the Chengtian Gate to the Wumen (Meridian Gate), they had to dismount and switch to a sedan chair. Yan Nian and Xie Wenjun first went to the Chongzheng Hall to pay their respects to Xie Yuan.

Three people were standing in the Chongzheng Hall: Jiang Xiantang, the Imperial Censor-in-Chief, and Cheng Lingdian, the Prefect of Yong’an, stood on either side, with Xun Xian in the middle. Not only was Xun Xian’s head still on his neck, but he remained securely seated as the head of the civil officials, and with the absence of Zhang Diancheng, he reigned supreme.

It was speculated in the court that the Right Prime Minister would be promoted from among Jiang Xiantang and Cheng Lingdian.

Xie Yuan sat behind the imperial desk, quietly listening to Xun Xian’s report on the failure of the peace talks between the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, Li Hezhang, and Dongyin, including the causes and detailed process.

Xie Wenjun entered the hall first, with Yan Nian following half a step behind her.

Upon seeing Yan Nian arrive in her official attire as a Gāomìng (Lady of Title), Xie Yuan’s expression was quite meaningful. He appeared normal when facing the other three ministers and Xie Wenjun, but his gaze towards Yan Nian flickered, seemingly with a look of shame.

Yan Nian learned that the Emperor had indeed not summoned Chen Liangyu to the palace. After inquiring about the Imperial will, she headed to the Nanyuan Palace.

Xie Yuan ordered a Dragon Carriage to be summoned, granting Yan Nian permission to ride in it.

The Failure of Peace Talks

The outcome of Li Hezhang’s negotiations with Dongyin was not far from Xie Wenjun’s expectations—the two parties nearly came to blows. This could not entirely be blamed on Li Hezhang’s poor performance. Demanding money while refusing to return the prisoners and the land, and making extravagant demands, would yield this result regardless of who was negotiating.

On the day of the peace talks, Li Hezhang sat solemnly in the main seat of the post station, relaying his intentions to You Jingbo, the Chief Envoy of Dongyin, with not a single deviation. Naturally, these intentions were primarily Xie Wenjun’s: “In short, one sentence: I want the cities, I want the people, and I also want the money.”

You Jingbo immediately burst into curses: “Utter shamelessness! What is there to talk about?”

Li Hezhang said, “You are the ones who requested peace talks. If there’s nothing to discuss, why is Lord You still sitting here? Go back home.”

You Jingbo: “You are being unprincipled!”

The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies retorted: “The corpse of Marquis Wu’an, Chen Linjun, was suspended on your city gate for three months. You talk about principle? Feel free to send troops, and let Great General Chen return to slaughter and properly teach you what principle is! A defeated nation, how dare a mere commoner act so presumptuously!”

After losing their cities and land, Dongyin sent a proposal for peace talks, not an instrument of surrender.

You Jingbo argued, “These official traveled thousands of miles to your capital city to seek a truce and reconciliation for the peace of both nations’ people, not to surrender to you! If you do not display sincerity for a compromise, does that mean you intend to continue the war?”

In fact, neither side truly intended to resume a bloody war. Chen Liangyu had already returned to the court, leaving Feng Jiakun and Qing Ge to guard the three border cities she had occupied in Dongyin. This largely constituted a cessation of hostilities and a truce.

Dongyin had taken advantage of the internal strife in Zhonglin to recklessly launch an attack. Initially, they indeed tasted the sweetness of victory and became overly complacent. Ultimately, however, they lost cities, land, and prisoners. At this point in the war, even the most incompetent emperor should have understood the disparity in military strength and that continuing the fight would bring no benefit. Furthermore, the current emperor of Dongyin, Chu Muyao, was not a sluggish or mediocre man, and he immediately decided to cease hostilities and halt the war.

Zhonglin’s situation was also difficult. Xie Wenjun’s Ten Thousand Officials Register had drained half of the national treasury. Continuing the fight would lead to problems with provisions and supplies. If they were forced to continue the campaign, it might ultimately lead to widespread destitution among the people.

Both sides were keenly aware that peace talks were the best solution for both parties.

Xie Wenjun’s Dilemma

Problems, like entangled threads, coiled around her heart, one after another. Xie Wenjun lightly massaged the throbbing pain in her temples, contemplating where to begin unraveling them.

The very first year the Ten Thousand Officials Register was compiled, it nearly caused the national treasury to become insolvent again. This was only the beginning, and for many years to come, this money absolutely could not be provided by the Ministry of Revenue. They habitually would only shift the burden to the common people, raising funds under the guise of the court and even lining their own pockets.

It so happened that Chen Liangyu had captured over a hundred thousand Dongyin soldiers and a jin zhi yu ye (golden branch and jade leaf) Crown Prince. Xie Wenjun planned to sell these prisoners of war and the Dongyin Crown Prince, Chu Zhang, for a good price, but Chen Liangyu wanted to use them for another purpose and refused to sell.

She would have to find a way from elsewhere.

Just as the pulsating pain in Xie Wenjun’s temples began to subside under pressure, after reporting Chen Liangyu and Yan Nian’s intentions for keeping the prisoners of war to Xie Yuan, he uttered a sentence that instantly tightened the tangled threads of worry, making Xie Wenjun’s skull feel as if it were about to explode.

Xie Yuan said, “Return the people. Keep the cities, but return the prisoners of war and Chu Zhang.”

“They cannot be returned.”

Xie Wenjun keenly sensed that this was not Xie Yuan’s will. She dismissed Xun Xian, Jiang Xiantang, and Cheng Lingdian, and asked Xie Yuan, “Imperial Brother, is this the Imperial Father’s will?”

Xie Yuan leaned back, seemingly overwhelmed by an inexpressible sense of helplessness. He did not know how to speak.

Yesterday, Dongyin had contributed some items to both the Chongzheng Hall and the Nanyuan Palace. Xie Yuan had them sent to the storeroom without even looking at them. Not long after, the Retired Emperor invited him to the Nanyuan Palace and spoke those words to him.

Xie Wenjun said, “Imperial Brother, seeking advice from the Imperial Father in all matters is a sign of modesty and virtue. However, if everything is determined by the Imperial Father, your subject’s sister dares to ask, does the Imperial Brother intend to one day return the governance to the Imperial Father?”

Xie Yuan’s body suddenly stiffened, and his face turned slightly pale. He glossed over it, saying, “The Imperial Father once made a mistake. If it were exposed, it would not be tolerated by the world.”

Xie Wenjun instantly realized the truth. She understood that “mistake,” which Xie Yuan could not bring himself to speak of, better than anyone.

“Does Third Brother still remember Wei Qi?”

Xie Yuan was startled, “You know about this too?”

Xie Wenjun said, “Your subject’s sister will go see You Jingbo.”

The Negotiation

You Jingbo were not surprised by Xie Wenjun’s sudden visit to the post station. He had known early on that after the gifts were delivered to the Zhonglin Imperial Palace, someone of higher status than the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, Li Hezhang, would inevitably come to see him. In any case, it had to be someone of equal standing to a Prince. Zhonglin’s Imperial family no longer had any Princes, only one powerful Princess Royal.

You Jingbo quickly took two steps forward to greet her, “Princess Royal Jiangning, I have long heard your illustrious name.”

Xie Wenjun said, “Since the Envoy holds a handle over our dynasty, there is no need for flattery.”

You Jingbo said, “The Princess Royal speaks too seriously. What handle is there? During the war between the two armies, as a guest deep within the Zhonglin capital, I naturally must be cautious and would not dare to utter threats.”

Xie Wenjun glanced at him, saying, “Envoy, shall we move elsewhere to speak?”

You Jingbo smiled frankly, “Please, Princess Royal.”

He naturally knew that such a matter could not be overheard. With many ears near the walls of the post station, they would have to find another place for a confidential discussion.

Xie Wenjun said, “This Princess will only speak with the Envoy alone.”

You Jingbo replied, “Naturally, I understand.” After instructing the rest of the delegation to wait at the post station, You Jingbo boarded the carriage following Xie Wenjun’s.

The destination was an elegant garden where peach blossoms were in full bloom. However, the fragrance in this garden was slightly strong, unlike the natural scent of flowers; it smelled more like the perfume and powder on a young woman.

A pavilion was hidden where the peach blossoms bloomed most profusely.

Xie Wenjun led You Jingbo to the pavilion and said, “The Envoy is quite courageous, not even suspecting that this Princess might have other motives for bringing you here.”

You Jingbo confidently replied, “If the Princess Royal wished to assassinate this humble official, there would be no need for such elaborate measures. This is Zhonglin, and anywhere could be my burial ground if the Princess wished me dead. Since I have come, why would I fear death? However, Zhonglin has just stabilized its internal strife, and the four seas are not yet peaceful. If the matter of the Emperor mercilessly harming his own people for the sake of seizing the throne were exposed at this time, Princess Royal, do you think people of righteousness would once again rise up and rebel against the Xie Imperial family?”

Xie Wenjun said, “Regarding the three cities sought in the Envoy’s proposal for peace, the captured Dongyin soldiers, and your Crown Prince, this Princess can decide to return them.”

Xie Wenjun’s demeanor was very modest, very low, so much so that You Jingbo momentarily thought this Princess Royal, who was still in her youthful years, was not as capable as rumored, but merely had a false reputation.

You Jingbo puffed out his chest and said, “Since the Princess Royal has the sincerity for peace talks, on behalf of my Emperor, I offer gold, silver, and silk fabrics…”

Xie Wenjun interrupted him, saying, “I do not want any of these things.”

You Jingbo asked, “May I know what the Princess Royal seeks?”

Xie Wenjun said, “I heard that the Envoy’s ancestors practiced medicine. I wonder if the Envoy has inherited the family trade?”

The sudden change of topic startled You Jingbo. After a moment of thought, he immediately raised his guard, wondering what trap Xie Wenjun’s words might conceal. Finding no clue, he could only answer truthfully, “I am ashamed; my medical skills are not profound, but I am proficient in diagnosis by observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation, and prescribing medicine.”

Xie Wenjun placed a silk handkerchief over her wrist, “This Princess has been fatigued recently and would like to trouble the Envoy to take her pulse.”

You Jingbo were even more confused. Did the Imperial Palace not have Imperial Physicians? Though he thought this, he still said, “I am willing to serve.”

Two fingers, separated by the silk handkerchief, were placed on Xie Wenjun’s pulse. After taking the pulse, You Jingbo’s confident expression was no longer visible. His face changed shades, appearing in various colors, which was quite a sight.

Xie Wenjun adjusted her sleeve, covering the fair skin of her wrist, “The You family are close ministers to the Son of Heaven and new nobility in Dongyin. I do not want gold, silver, or silk fabrics. I only want the heads of the three most powerful people in the You family, and then I will release Chu Zhang.”

The You family had amassed enormous wealth by using the Soul Severing Potion to raise dead soldiers assassins/secret agents for high officials and noble families. After Dongyin’s collateral Imperial family member, Chu Muyao, seized the throne, he greatly valued the You family, and the You clan is now the largest aristocratic family in Dongyin.

“The means by which one rises will be the means by which one falls.”

Xie Wenjun opened a small box containing a pill. She took it out and swallowed it in front of You Jingbo.

You Jingbo’s breathing gradually became erratic, and his figure swayed.

The abnormal fragrance in the peach blossom forest did indeed have a hidden secret.

You Jingbo collapsed in the pavilion.

Xie Wenjun walked out of the peach blossom pavilion and said to Rong Jun, “Carry him to the front. Li Yuqing knows what to do.”

She covered her mouth and nose with a silk handkerchief. The peach forest was in the backyard of Yifeng Pavilion, separated by a single wall from the building where the young women applied their makeup. The scent of powder drifting from the front was overwhelmingly strong, masking the original clear fragrance of the peach blossom forest. She could not help but ask, “Has Yifeng Pavilion been turned into a rouge and powder shop?”