Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 10

Not having yet won Wei Xiu, Puyang already cherished her dearly. Once she did, how could she ever be willing to let her return? Puyang smiled faintly, sidestepping the issue. “If Sir still wishes to return by then, it must be due to my lack of virtue. All the more reason for Sir to guide me at all times. How could Sir bear to leave me?”

Wei Xiu, either believing her or simply unwilling to expose the pretense, merely glanced at her noncommittally, smiled, and said nothing.

Puyang felt a pang of regret.

To win the heart of a lofty scholar, she ought to be more magnanimous, offer her respect, and provide her with opportunities to display her great talents. In the future, if she dared to leave, she would imprison her by her side, lest she be won by another and turned against her.

As for now, what harm was there in speaking more pleasantly? She should have said, “Sir, you may come and go as you please. There will always be a place for you here.”

That would have been far more moving.

Alas, the words were already spoken, and it was difficult to take them back. Puyang felt a touch of vexation. She looked at Wei Xiu, who was holding a jade xiao, and said, “Is Sir skilled with the xiao?”

The jade flute was a uniform verdant green, its texture gentle and lustrous. Even to Puyang’s eyes, accustomed to fine objects, it deserved praise.

Wei Xiu looked down at it and smiled. “I wouldn’t call myself skilled. I am merely acquainted with it.”

A gentleman possessed Six Arts, and music was among them. The scions of noble families placed particular importance on this; not only were they expected to be versed in literature and martial arts, but music, archery, and mathematics were also cultivated from a young age. Puyang knew several young nobles with high attainments in music. Among them, Young Master Heng of the Liu clan was the most dazzling. It was said that when Liu Heng played the zither, he once drew butterflies to dance around him. Many witnessed this with their own eyes, and it became a celebrated tale.

When Wei Xiu said she was merely acquainted with the xiao, it was, in truth, just a modest turn of phrase. Puyang knew that her skill with the xiao was as fine as Liu Heng’s with the zither; it was simply that outsiders were unaware.

Puyang had once overheard her by chance.

It was also a spring day. Not long after Xiao Dewen had ascended the throne, the various princes were at court. All of them were his elders, and they interfered in state affairs, often using their status as imperial uncles to force him to issue edicts. Xiao Dewen was deeply wary of them and sought Wei Xiu’s counsel. Wei Xiu advised that dispatching the princes to govern their fiefs would solve the immediate predicament. Puyang was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. Letting those vassal princes leave the capital was no different from releasing a tiger back to the mountains. Dealing with them in the future would be far more difficult.

At that time, the vassal princes all had soldiers under their command, entrenched in their own fiefdoms like tigers and dragons. While the court had a large army and could handle one of them without difficulty, what if these princes rose up together? Who could possibly control them? The power of the great clans was already a grave concern for the imperial family. With a new emperor on the throne, he should be placating the vassal princes, directing their conflicts toward the great clans, not fostering infighting within the Xiao family.

She had hurried to the palace to offer her counsel, but Xiao Dewen was wary of her and believed she was too close to the vassal princes, so he shelved her sound advice. Helpless, she strolled along a palace path, pondering countermeasures.

Her wandering led her to Kunming Pool.

It was a season of lush grass and soaring orioles, of swallows carrying warm mud—a gentle spring scene. The times were beautiful, yet the court situation grew more perilous by the day as the roots of disaster were continually planted. Puyang worried that one day, things would spiral out of control.

The sound of a xiao drifted over, its tone mellow, serene, and elegant, like a breeze on the face, like water flowing through the heart. Puyang was deep in sorrow, and the gentle music seemed capable of dissolving her worries. She could not help but stop and listen intently.

The music was tranquil and far-reaching, delicate and nuanced. Puyang had heard many fine xiao performances, but none could compare to this. “When the music of the Xiao Shao pipes plays, the phoenix comes to pay homage.” The music that could summon a phoenix must sound just like this.

Puyang was utterly entranced and couldn’t resist walking slowly toward the source of the sound.

Passing a thicket of trees, she saw a person seated in a wheelchair, facing Kunming Pool. In her hands, a simple xiao seemed as extraordinary as a celestial instrument.

When Puyang saw it was her, her heart turned cold. Wei Xiu had also heard the footsteps. The music stopped abruptly. She turned her head and, upon seeing Puyang, showed no trace of surprise, merely nodding composedly. “Greetings, Grand Princess.”

In Puyang’s memory, hearing the xiao by Kunming Pool had happened not long ago, yet looking back, it felt as if it were separated by countless people and events, by myriad rivers and mountains, by the vastness of time and space.

She looked at Wei Xiu. The person before her was far more elegant, and also far more youthful, than she had been then.

The matter of sending the princes to their fiefs had always been a thorn in her side. Based on the insight Wei Xiu had previously displayed, she should never have made such an obvious mistake.

Puyang couldn’t hold back. “There is a matter on which I wish to ask for Sir’s guidance. If a young ruler ascends the throne while the court is dominated by great clans and the vassal princes are powerful, should the vassal princes be sent to their fiefs to prevent the sovereign from being controlled by his own kin?”

Her sudden question, especially when considering the current court—where the great clans, though strong, were suppressed by the Emperor, and the vassal princes, though influential, could not be called powerful, and the Emperor himself was nearly fifty—was entirely different from the scenario she described. Wei Xiu was slightly puzzled, but she still thought for a moment before answering. “If the vassal princes are powerful, they will inevitably harbor treacherous thoughts. If they are sent to their fiefdoms, there will inevitably be places beyond the court’s reach. It would be better to keep them at court, where they can be used to suppress the great clans, giving the young ruler a chance to breathe and gradually consolidate imperial power.”

This was not a difficult problem to solve. Any ruler, if not misled, would likely do the same. Afterward, if the young ruler was capable, he could act more decisively and gather all power into his hands. If he was mediocre, he could still do his utmost to maintain the situation and muddle through with a stable reign.

After speaking, Wei Xiu looked at Puyang, only to see her staring blankly, unconcealed shock in her eyes.

Wei Xiu frowned slightly. She had a bad feeling but couldn’t pinpoint what had gone wrong. It seemed something had slipped beyond her control.

A storm was raging in Puyang’s heart. Wei Xiu clearly knew that the princes should be kept in the capital, yet she had still strongly advised Xiao Dewen to send them to their fiefs. She had done it on purpose! Her aim must have been to use this to incite turmoil!

Puyang’s thoughts raced. She immediately realized that the person Wei Xiu was truly assisting was not Xiao Dewen!

Who could it be? Puyang’s mind fell into chaos, and she grew deeply uneasy.

“Your Highness?” Wei Xiu called out.

Puyang started as if waking from a dream. “Hm?” Seeing Wei Xiu’s concerned gaze, she knew she had lost her composure and quickly said, “Sir?”

Wei Xiu did not ask why she had been distracted, only saying, “Your Highness does not look well. It would be best to get more rest.”

Puyang’s mind was in turmoil. Hearing her words, she hastily agreed.

Wei Xiu’s gaze was heavy, and a flicker of worry flashed through it.

At the same time, the Prince of Jin had entered the palace and presented Puyang’s letter to the Emperor. The Emperor examined the handwriting carefully and was overjoyed. He immediately dispatched five hundred Imperial Guards to Mount Mang to welcome the princess back to the palace.

That Puyang was unharmed was the best possible news.

The Imperial Guard received their orders and left the palace without a moment’s delay.

It was already afternoon. Even if they rode without stopping, they would arrive after nightfall. The princess was injured, and it would not be right to disturb her. Dou Hui, being meticulous, thought of this and reminded the Emperor. The Emperor was merely overjoyed at the moment; even if Dou Hui hadn’t said anything, he would have remembered shortly. Now, with the reminder, the Emperor sent someone to instruct the Imperial Guard to camp at the foot of the mountain for the night and ascend the next morning.

The Prince of Jin watched the Emperor’s joyful expression with intense jealousy, yet he had to conceal it, daring not to show his true feelings. He put on a happy facade, striving to act as if he had no idea that Zhang Daozhi had already reported him to the Emperor, and feigning extreme delight at Puyang’s rescue.

He was terrified and anxious, having already prepared how he would respond to the Emperor’s questioning. He was just waiting for the interrogation, but to his surprise, after the Emperor’s joy subsided, his expression turned cold, and he cast a faint glance at him.

A chill ran down the Prince of Jin’s spine. He instinctively wanted to lower his head to avoid that stinging gaze, but he forced himself not to show his guilt.

“Father,” he said.

But the Emperor just waved his hand. “You are dismissed.”

No reprimand, no questions.

The Prince of Jin’s heart relaxed for a moment, only to be gripped by even greater unease. But he dared not ask. He bowed deeply and respectfully withdrew. Just as he reached the doors of the hall, he heard the Emperor’s voice from behind him: “Issue a decree. Lift the Prince of Zhao’s confinement. He is to attend court and participate in politics, as before.”

The Prince of Jin’s heart sank, but he did not dare to pause for even a second. He stepped over the high threshold of the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue and walked outside. Outside was a wide square, empty except for the guarding Imperial Guard. The familiar scene suddenly felt alien. His heavy heart seemed to loosen, only to be followed by a constricting fear.

His father already believed Zhang Daozhi’s words, so much so that he wouldn’t even allow him to explain. But he hadn’t punished him. What did that mean? Was he waiting for Seventh Lady to return before delivering a harsh punishment?

The Prince of Jin was suddenly filled with a sense of impending doom.

Meanwhile, the servant who had been left at the Prince of Jin’s residence had vanished from everyone’s sight and returned to Mount Mang.

By now, the sky was dark. He walked up the mountain path as if on level ground. Halfway up, he suddenly saw a large patch of firelight at the foot of the mountain. He found an open spot with an unobstructed view and looked closely. Tents and human figures were faintly visible.

It was the Imperial Guard, come to escort the princess.

The servant immediately went up the mountain to report the matter to Wei Xiu, recounting in detail what he had seen at the Prince of Jin’s residence.

Wei Xiu pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, “What do you think of Princess Puyang?”

The question was not for the male servant, but for the female attendant waiting by her side. The attendant smiled shyly and said, “This servant cannot see much.” She thought for a moment, then added seriously, “But, the princess seems overly enthusiastic toward you, Young Master.”

Wei Xiu lowered her gaze. A faint smile touched her lips, a shallow curve that vanished before it could fully form. She seemed to have exhausted all her strength, leaning wearily against the back of her wheelchair. She looked at her immobile legs and raised a hand to cover her knees, but the gesture felt as heavy as a mountain.

Finally, she waved her hand weakly and sighed in a low voice, “It is her, then.”

The two servants, a man and a woman, showed no confusion or doubt at her words, merely standing silently in attendance. And Wei Xiu, staring at the star-like flame on the bronze candlestick, became lost in thought.

Not far from her, in another room of the thatched cottage, Puyang was also unable to sleep. The discovery she had made today was truly a great blow. Wei Xiu had single-handedly helped Xiao Dewen ascend the throne, but she had never imagined that Wei Xiu was assisting someone else entirely.

Who could that person be? If they wanted chaos in the realm, it must be someone who could only profit from great turmoil. Who would need to profit from political chaos?

She lay on the couch. Whether from the cold of the night or something else, her wound began to ache again. She was to return to the capital tomorrow, yet at this very moment, she had discovered such a momentous secret.

Xiao Dewen was currently only eight years old, incapable of accomplishing anything. Puyang was certain that Wei Xiu had not been recruited by him. But what about the person behind the scenes? Had they already secured Wei Xiu? If Wei Xiu had another allegiance, would she still be willing to go with her?

Puyang suddenly felt uncertain.

She tossed and turned, wondering who that person could be.

If someone were to profit from political chaos, could it be one of her uncles? Were they trying to usurp the throne through such means?

Puyang shook her head. Unlikely. For her uncles to vie for the throne, while difficult, would not require such a convoluted plot. Once the realm fell into chaos and the princes contended for the throne, it would be anyone’s guess who would emerge victorious. It was too risky.

But then again, she herself had profited from it. The letter she had sent to the land of Zhao before her death was intended to use the princes to exact her revenge.

At this thought, Puyang felt something was amiss again. If Wei Xiu’s true goal was to incite war, her death would have been the perfect catalyst. It would have struck a sensitive nerve with the princes, making them feel a sense of shared vulnerability, and fueling their dissatisfaction with the Emperor. Handled properly, it could have driven them to rebel. Why, then, did Wei Xiu save her?

She could not make sense of it, and the night deepened. Puyang closed her eyes, trying to rest and recover her strength. But for some reason, the image of Wei Xiu’s eyes, filled with dark, simmering fury, appeared in her mind.

It was the last thing she had seen in her previous life.

Wei Xiu, who had always been inscrutable, had eyes that seemed to hold a boundless inferno.

Author’s Notes:

Princess (clenches fist): Sir, I must have you!

The great scholar (raises an eyebrow): Oh?

Princess: Getting you is the best way to celebrate the festival!

The great scholar: …

Princess: <(￣︶￣)> Sir, Happy Qixi Festival!

The great scholar (indulgently, patting her head): You too.