A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 71

Du Peixun’s head was temporarily saved.

It wasn’t that Chen Liangyu had gone back on her word and no longer wished to take his head, but rather that Jing Ming believed casually twisting off someone’s head was a bit impolite. He managed to dissuade her after much persuasion.

The room Chen Liangyu was staying in at the post house was drafty. The wooden door of the room had one more hole in it than when she had left.

She had kicked it herself.

It was not that she was taking her anger out on a door; it was just that on her return from Qunfang Garden, all she could think about were the twenty-something young, dashing men surrounding Xie Wenjun.

Perhaps the Princess Royal truly needed them, she thought.

Xie Wenjun was no longer the little girl who cried with her face buried in Chen Liangyu’s sleeve. If not for one incident after another causing delays, Xie Wenjun should have already found a good husband and become a wife and mother.

At such a vigorous age, perhaps she truly did need men by her side?

But twenty-something male consorts?!

Unless the palace held a grand selection for maidens to enter the court, even if the Emperor were on an inspection tour and ordered local officials to gather so many young girls for his service, he would still be brutally scolded by censors and remonstrance officials with spittle flying everywhere, uttering all sorts of vile language like “blinded by lust,” “debauchery,” “unbridled indulgence,” and “you bear the face of a king who will ruin the nation.”

If this matter were to spread, it would be inevitable for people to accuse the Princess Royal of extravagance and debauchery. That would be the mild language. If someone were to make a big issue of it, hats of “wantonness,” “fallen flower,” and “loss of virtue and chastity” would be slapped on her without question.

Even if they themselves lacked “virtue” or “chastity,” they possessed an extremely strong desire to control a woman’s integrity.

Xie Wenjun was still young, and such a stigma would be enough to destroy all her foundations in the court.

But what should be done with those twenty-something men?

Kill them? Being involuntarily presented by officials as objects of reverence to the Princess Royal, and then losing their lives for it—they were truly innocent. Not kill them, but release them after Xie Wenjun leaves the Northern Territory? What would happen if this group went out and spread rumors?

Then there were only two options: first, order them to renounce the mortal world, shave their heads, and become monks; second, confine them permanently to Qunfang Garden, never to be released for life.

Chen Liangyu’s mind was in a turmoil. For a moment, she forgot that a door could be opened by hand. All she saw was a wooden door blocking her path, and she raised her foot and kicked it.

The air in the Northern Territory was dry, and the timber used for the house construction lacked moisture after a long time—it was dry and easily broken. Under her single kick, it immediately crumbled, leaving a hole in the door panel.

When the wind rose in Wuzhou, there was a lot of sand—”wind and sand,” as they called it. If the doors and windows weren’t tightly shut, dust would accumulate on the bed, table, and floor in just half a day. The postmaster called out to her to change rooms and waited outside for a long time, but there was no reply.

Jing Ming told him to prepare another room first.

Recently, he did not understand many of Chen Liangyu’s actions. She was as calm and rational as ever about other things, but whenever the Princess Royal was involved, her entire persona became somewhat absurd! Just like today, Chen Liangyu went to the prefectural office to deal with a group of people immediately after leaving the Princess Royal. He was completely bewildered and only understood what had happened through her few words.

She didn’t try to dissuade her from such a thing; instead, she helped to conceal it?

He even heard from Jing He that the Princess Royal had stayed at Liang Garden for two nights, and there were no spare guest rooms at Liang Garden. Did the two of them share a bed?

He didn’t ask too much at the time. Now that Chen Liangyu was the Grand Marshal, he was her subordinate, and questioning her would be insubordination. Yet, he treated Chen Liangyu like a sister. Out of a duty to Chen Yuanqing and Chen Linjun, he couldn’t help but inquire.

So, he scanned all around, ensuring there were no ears in the corners before walking up to Chen Liangyu, standing straight. “Miss, where is the iron-inlaid signal cylinder?”

Chen Liangyu took out a signal cylinder and placed it on the table.

Jing Ming said, “I’m talking about your own.”

There were four iron-inlaid signal cylinders in total. Currently, Yan Baizhang and Yan Nian shared one, the Second Young Master of Yongdu had one, and the one in Chen Liangyu’s hand belonged to Chen Linjun. So, where was her own?

Chen Liangyu confessed, “I gave it to the Princess Royal.”

Jing Ming solemnly said, “She intentionally approached you before, perhaps for the sake of Crown Prince Yizhang. But why can’t you see her motive now? Power in the world is nothing more than money and soldiers. The tax on farmlands is money, and it is now in the Princess Royal’s hands. What would the Princess Royal, intentionally approaching you, be scheming for? Would the Emperor truly allow the Princess Royal, a mere woman, to control the nation’s agriculture and military affairs? The closer you get to the Princess Royal, the more dangerous it is for you. You have placed her eyes and ears by your side and even given her the iron-inlaid signal cylinder. If one day… both of these things could cost you your life.”

“I know,” Chen Liangyu replied, still composed.

Jing Ming fell silent for a long while. “Then you are truly mad!”

Zhu Ying had returned with Chen Liangyu. She brought her luggage to find Chen Liangyu and ran straight into the disgruntled Jing Ming coming out of Chen Liangyu’s room. There was a conspicuous hole in the door panel.

“What happened?”

Chen Liangyu didn’t answer. Leaning against the back of the chair, she said, “Get me a few doses of medicine!”

Zhu Ying asked, “What medicine?”

Chen Liangyu’s eyes were vacant, her voice utterly desolate. “Anything. Any medicine will do.”

“Are you speaking coherently?” Zhu Ying took her pulse. “Such mental agitation?”

Chen Liangyu remained silent.

Zhu Ying asked, “This kind of mood commonly indicates worry, fear, or lovesickness. What is yours caused by?”

Chen Liangyu said, “All of them.”

Zhu Ying quietly lowered her head, no longer questioning. “I’ll prescribe a formula to calm your mind and spirit first.” She thought to herself that this was tricky and hard to treat.

Zhu Ying finished writing the prescription and went to the apothecary to get the medicine. When she returned, Chen Liangyu was nowhere to be found.

Night fell early. The temperature difference here was significant; it was hot enough to drink ice water at noon, but one needed a light coat as soon as it got dark.

Outside Qunfang Garden, Rong Jun saw a figure pacing back and forth at the base of a high wall, occasionally looking up, occasionally lowering their head, seemingly undecided whether to climb over this barrier.

The sound of military boots and the faint clanking of metal were not far away, getting closer and closer to her.

Chen Liangyu identified the leader by the sound, did not draw her sword, but instead self-consciously straightened her back and coughed once. “It’s me, Sir Rong.”

Rong Jun was surprised. “General? My men have been watching for a while, saying there’s someone lurking outside, like an assassin. Are you… planning to steal something?”

“Steal what? I have something to discuss with the Princess Royal. Her Highness is at Qunfang Garden, right? I’ll be going now. Sir Rong, please continue your patrol. See you.”

Chen Liangyu looked up, scrutinizing the wall, checking left and right, trying to figure out the best spot to step up and climb over.

Rong Jun said, “General?”

Chen Liangyu clasped her hands behind her back and said seriously, “What else is it, Sir Rong?”

Rong Jun asked, perplexed, “Why don’t you use the main gate?”

Chen Liangyu felt Rong Jun was absolutely right, secretly praising the intelligence of the people trained by the late Crown Prince. “Right! Use the main gate. Qunfang Garden has a main gate! The main gate is good.” After this stream of nonsense, she only wanted to draw her sword and commit suicide on the spot to leave a good reputation behind, thinking, “What on earth am I saying!”

Rong Jun scolded his subordinates, “What are you laughing at! No laughing!”

After Chen Liangyu’s figure vanished around the corner and was completely out of sight, Rong Jun staggered to the wall and beat it repeatedly with his fists, laughing uncontrollably.

Candles were lit in Xie Wenjun’s chamber, and warm yellow light shone through the bright paper windows. A palace maid stepped forward, gracefully performed the court bow, and said, “General, Her Highness is bathing and washing up. Please wait in the courtyard.”

The luzi plant presented by Shitan was placed on a stone table under the corridor, still unblossomed. In the flower garden, a multitude of flowers swayed in the wind, resembling layers of floral waves. The waves of flowers were divided by paths paved with green bricks, and along the paths were many small, round wooden tables.

The years were peaceful.

A group of people emerged from the green brick path deep within the flower garden.

It was the same group from the dining hall earlier in the day.

Each person carried a tray, with either green cups and dishes or white porcelain wine jars on top. Their clothes were no longer as unrestrained and frivolous as during the day; they had changed into formal attire, and their hair was neatly tied up.

Seeing Chen Liangyu standing in the courtyard, a few men brought over a set of tables and chairs and set out several jars of wine. The leader was still Lu Sutai. He bowed. “Greetings, General.”

The few men behind him followed suit.

Looking up close, Chen Liangyu realized that these men were all youths, not yet twenty years old.

They seemed to have been admonished. Not only had Lu Sutai and the others changed their clothes, but their expressions no longer held that alluring, frivolous charm of a courtesan. They all looked normal, even somewhat refined.

Lu Sutai said, “We have brewed some floral nectar and fruit wines and brought them for the Princess Royal to taste. The General has arrived just in time; please try them as well. If there’s anything amiss, we ask the General for correction.”

Chen Liangyu had a special fondness for fruit wine. She agreed.

The wine jars were only palm-sized and round. She pushed the wine cup aside, pulled the cork from the jar’s mouth, and took a small sip. Her mouth was filled with the fragrance of fruit.

It was sweet.

She successively pulled the corks from the other wine jars and tasted them all. They were all sweet. Without realizing it, she had drunk a lot.

She said, “Good craftsmanship.”

Receiving approval, the men exchanged glances and became cheerful.

Lu Sutai said, “General, your eyes are red. It’s not advisable to drink any more. My mother said that for people who get red faces and eyes from drinking, excessive consumption can cause hives.”

Chen Liangyu, however, seemed not to hear, gulping down one mouthful after another. When a jar was empty, she said, “Excuse me, could you prepare some more of this wine for me to take away?”

Lu Sutai said, “Of course.”

Chen Liangyu glanced at the group of youthful-looking men, thinking that since they were sent to Xie Wenjun’s side, they should possess some special skill.

So, she asked, “What skills do you all possess?”

Lu Sutai said, “Sword dancing is a family tradition, and I am skilled in swordsmanship.”

The others also replied one by one.

“Horsemanship and archery.”

“Rites and music, dance.”

“Calligraphy, poetry.”

“The nine arts of mathematics are no problem.”

“I have some knowledge of the Five Charioteering Arts.”

Chen Liangyu said, “It’s a wonder Du Peixun managed to gather you all so completely! Among you, who is the most capable?”

The other youths unanimously took a step back. Lu Sutai stood still, naturally separating himself from the group and standing at the very front.

He said, “That would probably be me.”

Chen Liangyu asked, “Skilled in swordsmanship?”

“That is correct.”

“Bring a sword.”

Rong Jun, passing by on patrol, said perfectly timed, “I have one here.” He threw a sword over. Immediately after, the guards behind him lined up, surrounding the front of Xie Wenjun’s chamber. While watching the show, they couldn’t neglect the Princess Royal’s safety.

Just as Lu Sutai steadied the long sword that had dropped from above, he heard a “zheng” sound as the Lancang Sword was drawn. Chen Liangyu, still clutching a wine jar, wobbly pointed the sword’s tip at him.

Lu Sutai bowed with the sword in his arms. “General, please forgive the offense.”

With that, he raised his sword and began to dance. Instantly, the sword light in Qunfang Garden flared brightly. Sword shadows and human figures were indistinguishable in the confusion, and the continuous clanging of metal echoed incessantly. The sword light swept over large swaths of flower branches, and petals, like shattered brocade, spread across the garden in disarray. Chen Liangyu retracted the Lancang Sword, drank the last gulp of wine from the jar, and turned her neck to loosen her joints. She discarded the empty wine jar, clutching a handful of flowers.

Lu Sutai climbed up from the still-splattering dirt. “My swordsmanship is poor. I hope the General and Sir Rong will forgive my inadequacy.”

Rong Jun laughed. “You practice sword dance, and she practices sword fighting. How could you be her match?”

The youths cheerily swarmed forward, helping Chen Liangyu onto a small chair. They wiped her sweat, massaged her shoulders and back, and showered her with words of praise and admiration.

Lu Sutai showed a row of white teeth. “Sir Rong, whose martial arts are superior, yours or the General’s?”

Rong Jun said, “We haven’t fought.”

Chen Liangyu said, “Why is it so cold? Sir Rong, are you cold?”

She had just drunk a lot of fruit wine and had exercised her muscles and bones with Lu Sutai, with a thin layer of sweat still on her forehead. The chill felt somewhat strange.

Rong Jun said, “A little.”

The moonlight in the courtyard was bright, but suddenly the wind picked up, and the moonlight was gradually swallowed by a black mist.

The group unanimously looked towards the door behind Rong Jun.

Xie Wenjun’s black hair was loosely tied with a silk ribbon, her hair tips still slightly damp. Dressed in a clean, plain white garment, she stood on the high steps.

“Chen Liangyu, you are too presumptuous!”