A Hundred of Beautiful Lives - Chapter 004

The sound of the jade flute was deep and solemn. At first, it evoked the biting chill of winter, snowflakes swirling like silver serpents and the ten thousand miles of land were frozen. Then suddenly, the spring wind swept across, green returned to the mountains, and the streams flowed with a clear, melodious sound. In its wake, peach blossoms at a mountain temple began to bloom slowly, the soft pink petals unfurling to reveal tender stamens as swarms of butterflies fluttered their wings. A small stream, fish swam between the rocks, and a flat-bottomed boat drifted upstream, winding through ravines and passing caves. All at once, the view widened, filled with a riot of colours as if the flowers were blooming in profusion like embroidered brocade. And by the stream, an old fisherman cast his line, and a young woman washed flowers as she chased butterflies.

The heart moves forward, and the spirit remains oblivious to the world beyond.

“General Li, General Li.” Yu Sui’er waved her hand before Li He’s eyes, and only then did she beckon Li He’s soul back.

Li He’s flushed red. To cover up his embarrassment, he hurriedly jumped off the boat, but who could have guessed the boatman, too, was entranced by the sound of the jade flute and had not yet steadied the skiff. As Li He stepped onto the muddy riverbank, the water immediately soaked into his boots.

Yu Sui’er could not help but laugh aloud, thinking to herself that Li He turned out to be a dullard.

Ji Yang cast a glare at Yu Sui’er. Li He, seeing that glance, wished all those myriad charms meant for him. Li He was also the son of an official family. Otherwise, he would not have been able to enter the Hǔbēn Jūn that guarded the imperial court. But his true passion lay in martial arts rather than scholarly pursuits. He viewed the sounds of silk strings and bamboo flutes as decadent distractions, things that dulled one’s ambition. Moreover, those who played music put on pretentious airs, speaking of things like Gāoshān Liúshuǐ and Bóyá Zǐqī, but in fact, what they played was complete nonsense that no one could understand.

Today, Li He realised that the music that touched people’s hearts was not the obscure melodies or virtuoso techniques, but the music played by Princess Anle—a tune that noble sons riding swiftly through Zhangtai could understand, the soldiers battling fiercely on the frontlines could hear. Even the boatmen, who only knew how to pole a boat, could grasp. That was the music that touched people’s hearts.

Li He waited for the heat on his face to subside before he reached out his hand to help Ji Yang off the boat. As she passed by him, a faint fragrance from the tips of her hair drifted on the breeze, and from that moment on, he could never recover from that scent for the rest of his life.

“What piece did the princess play just now?” Li He asked.

“The piece is called Táohuā Yuán,” Ji Yang replied.

“I’ve never heard it before,” Li He said.

“That is right, you haven’t. It is a piece that our princess composed herself. Where would you have heard it?” Yusui’er laughed.

Soon enough, the boatman made several trips, ferrying the others from the opposite shore. Ji Yang and her party were about to leave when they heard the sound of hooves approaching from the forest.

Li He’s expression grew serious. He stepped right to shield Ji Yang behind him, his hand already gripping his long spear, ready for action.

A single horse emerged from the woods.

The rider saw Li He in full armour, accompanied by several women, one veiled in white gauze, her bearing not that of an ordinary lady. He clasped his fist in salute and said: “Is the one ahead Princess Anle?”

Li He guarded Ji Yang and remained vigilant. “Who are you?”

That person dismounted from the horse, walked forward a few steps, and stopped. “I am Li Liang from Jizhou.”

Li Liang was a brave general who served under the Shen family of Jizhou. Li He is somewhat familiar with him and has heard of this person.

“I am Li He, General of the Hǔbēn Jūn,” Li He also introduced himself.

After Li He revealed his identity, he became positive that the woman behind him was Princess Anle. Li Liang immediately stepped forward, knelt on one knee and said, “This humble general, Li Liang, pays his respects to the Princess.”

At that moment, Ji Yang stepped out from behind Li He, “General Li, please rise.”

Once Li Liang stood, he continued, “My lord, upon hearing that the princess was attacked, ordered me to cross the river immediately to rescue her. Unfortunately, I was too late. However, the bandits were all eliminated, and the princess’s palanquin and wedding trousseau were retrieved.”

Yu Sui’er’s face lit up with joy. Empress Su had prepared a dowry worth a fortune for Ji Yang, and Yusui’er’s heart had bled ever since the bandits stole it. The dignified princess left with nothing but a change of clothes. With all the issues taken care of, Yusui’er could not help but feel grateful toward the Marquis of Xinyang even before meeting him.

“My lord guessed that General Jianwei would choose another ferry to escort the princess across the river, so he stationed soldiers at each crossing to wait. As expected, I was able to find the princess,” Li Liang continued. “Princess, please allow me to report to my lord. His camp is not far from here.”

Ji Yang nodded. “Thank you, General.”

Hearing that Shen Du was coming, remembered that he was the princess’s proper future husband. Li He felt an inexplicable discomfort in his chest and found it hard to articulate the emotions welling inside him. He thought if only he were not just a Jianwei General of the Hǔbēn Jūn but a marquis with command over military and civil affairs, then perhaps today, the princess’s husband would not be Shen Du of Jizhou.

Li Liang’s method of communication piqued Ji Yang’s curiosity. She watched as he blew three short notes and one long note on a bamboo whistle hanging at his chest. Looking up, she saw a dark shadow in the sky, circling above them before quickly flying westward.

Li He exclaimed in surprise, “Such a majestic speed, could it be a hǎidōngqīng?” Eagles from the northeast, the most handsome among them, are known as hǎidōngqīng. Among a hundred thousand divine eagles, not even one might compare to it. Therefore, Li He could not help but be amazed.

“General, you have a keen eye. That is indeed my lord’s trained hǎidōngqīng. It flies fast and high, beyond the reach of arrows, making it perfect for sending messages. “My lord sent it specifically to search for the princess,” Li Liang replied, his gaze filled with pride as he watched the black shadow disappear into the distance.

Yu Sui’er and Lu Zhu’er exchanged a glance, and they were delighted that the Marquis of Xinyang was so courteous to the princess.

When Ji Yang saw Li Liang approaching, he persistently brought up the Marquis of Xinyang, continuously speaking of all he had done for her, Princess Anle, which only made her more curious.

According to reasoning, nowadays, the Central Plains were eager to ally with Jizhou. Otherwise, her Empress Mother would not let her marry north of Jizhou. In contrast, the Marquis of Xinyang is incredibly considerate, which leaves Ji Yang unable to contain her curiosity about this person.

Soon after, the crisp sound of hoofbeats echoed through the mountain hollow. A troop of elite soldiers clad in black armour galloped towards the crossing as they reined in their horses together, with their hooves raised high, the people atop the horses remained as steady as Mount Tai, their faces all hidden behind the visor of a helmet.

Although Ji Yang did not know military affairs, she had heard of the remarkable renowned Hēi Jiǎ Jūn from Jizhou, which had never suffered defeat. As this column of soldiers approached, the horses were reined in silently, their hooves raised without a sound. Every step was perfectly in sync. Each step of the hooves was in perfect sync, orderly and precise. If it were not for the well-trained, highly skilled Hēi Jiǎ Jūn, it would be impossible for them to move with such precision.

Although Ji Yang understood the orderliness of the Hēi Jia Jūn, she did not have the opportunity to compare it with other armies. Thus, her impression of the power of the men in front of her was limited to the aspect of ‘I heard it was very powerful’.

After the troop halted and in perfect formation, they moved aside, revealing a black steed with a single tear-shaped mark on its forehead. The man riding it made an unforgettable impression on all who saw him.

Jizhou has a saying: One glance at Shen Lang is a mistake of a lifetime.

People widely believed that no woman should cross paths with Lord Shen Du of Jizhou.

Later, when Ji Yang recalled the scene, she could not help but marvel at Shen Du’s entrance, clad in white robes and silver armour, purple and gold crown, and white jade hairpin, with his horse bearing a tear-streaked mark, he exuded an imposing and majestic aura, surrounded by Hēi Jiǎ soldiers with green pines embracing him from behind. How could a young woman beginning to experience love stumble headlong into the boundless sea of emotion?

Ji Yang looked up at Shen Du from below while Shen Du was sitting on the back of a horse, looking down at the Princess of Anle.

To exaggerate a bit, the number of women Shen Fengzhuo had likely slept with was more women than Ji Yang had ever seen real men. Of course, if they were to count the eunuchs in the palace, they hardly qualify as real men. Nor did the two hundred elite Hǔbēn soldiers escorting Ji Yang. They might have surrounded her carriage like stars surrounding the moon, but she had not seen any of them.

Therefore, although Ji Yang’s figure was as graceful as a willow, in Shen Du’s eyes, she was like a fruit hanging on a branch in early summer, unripe to the point of being almost bitter.

At this moment, Ji Yang, Anle Princess, was somewhat dishevelled, her skirt stained with grass juice and her shoes covered in mud. Under Shen Du’s gaze, she shrank her feet back but saw that Shen Du no longer looked at her, which made her feel a little disheartened.

During their first meeting, Ji Yang’s heart surged with a thousand waves, while Shen Du remained as calm as an ancient well.

After all, Shen Du and Ji Yang were betrothed but were not supposed to meet before their wedding. The imperial carriage followed closely behind Shen Du Yu Sui’er, and Lu Zhu’er helped Ji Yang into the palanquin, and they began their journey to Jizhou.

On the return journey, Shen Du had already left the procession, leaving Li Liang to escort Ji Yang safely.

When the royal procession reached the outskirts of Jizhou City, the city gate had already adorned a colourful arch. At that time, the imperial uncle who had accompanied Ji Yang to Jizhou for her marriage, upon encountering the fierce bandits, fled at the first sign of trouble. Now, he mysteriously reappeared.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court, those who had died were dead, those who had scattered along the way, yet now, a few had miraculously reappeared. It was only regrettable that none of the court-appointed female officials sent alongside Ji Yang during her surrender had survived.

Ji Yang’s carriage first drove into a separate residence, specially prepared for her outside Jizhou City, where she would stay the night, washing up and preparing herself. Meanwhile, her dowry would be first sent to the Marquis of Xinyang’s residence, along with a concubine for the marriage trial.

This new concubine was the illegitimate daughter of Prince An’s concubine, who had also fled during the attack, conveniently taking this daughter along with him. Thus, the Court of Imperial Family Affairs was relieved from the burden of selecting another pure and virtuous woman for the marriage trial.

The report brought back by the new concubine confirmed that the trial had gone smoothly. Before dawn the next day, her two handmaidens, Yu Sui’er and Lu Zhu’er, dragged Ji Yang out from her warm, soft bedding to wash and dress her. Today was the formal day of her wedding.

From outside came the sounds of drums and gongs proclaiming the joyous occasion; the music was thunderous enough to shake the heavens. It was the groom arriving at the auspicious hour to receive the princess’s ceremonial carriage. Having enjoyed a hearty breakfast, Ji Yang let Yù Suì’ér and Lu Zhu’er, both in a flurry of activity, assist her in placing the golden flower crown adorned with nine phoenix tails and four-winged birds. A curtain of golden pearl chains hung from the crown that veiled her face, allowing her features to remain half-concealed behind its shimmering curtain.

Yù Suì’ér could not help but shed tears and said, “Princess, you look stunning today. It is a pity Her Majesty the Empress cannot witness your wedding herself.”

Upon leaving Luoyang, Ji Yang had not cried once. But now, hearing Yù Suì’ér’s words, she could not help but shed tears, feeling somewhat unable to believe that today, she was about to get married and take on the role of a wife. She thought back to her childhood when her mother had once promised that she would never marry her off in her lifetime.


[T/N: If you’re already familiar or prefer not to know, feel free to skip to the next chapter.

1. ‘The heart moves forward, the spirit remains, oblivious to the world beyond’ (The phrase describes a state of deep focus, where the mind and spirit are absorbed in thought, oblivious to the external world. It reflects a sense of inner concentration, often seen in Daoist philosophy).
2. ‘Green pines embracing him from behind’ can be interpreted as a poetic and symbolic image, implying strength and stability, as well as a connection to nature, but may also convey a sense of majesty and strength surrounding Shen Du, adding to his imposing presence.
3. Meaning- Gāoshān Liúshuǐ (‘High Mountains and Flowing Waters’ a famous tune), Bóyá Zǐqī (legendary friends through music or the friendship of Boya and Ziqi), Zhangtai (a famous marketplace in ancient times, often known as a symbolic place where aristocratic youth showed off, socialized, and enjoyed leisure), Táohuā Yuán (Peach Blossom Spring), Hǎidōngqīng (a gyrfalcon from the northeast, prized as the king of eagles), Hēi Jiǎ Jūn (Black-armored Army)].