Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 25

Back in the room, Wei Xiu dismissed all the servants. Puyang said nothing, walked to the couch and sat down, waiting to see how Wei Xiu would use clever words and rhetoric to persuade her to save them.

After everyone had left, Wei Xiu did not notice Puyang’s expression. Only when Puyang poured tea into a cup did she speak. “Your Highness seems so troubled. Is it because the person pleading has a significant background?”

“Not exactly.” In the capital, the families of officials frequently intermarried. The Xu clan had been exterminated to the third degree—Xu Luan’s paternal clan, maternal clan, and his wife’s clan. The rest were not implicated, but those who remained were not prominent families. “None of them are powerful families, but one of them has made considerable achievements in the military. I expect they will distinguish themselves in a few years.”

Wei Xiu fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in deep thought. Puyang held her tea without speaking, wanting to see just how Wei Xiu would convince her to save the women of the Xu family. From yesterday until now, various signs and clues had made Puyang almost certain of Wei Xiu’s identity. She lowered her gaze to the tea in her cup, trying her best to suppress her emotions.

After a long while, Wei Xiu spoke. “Is Your Highness planning to place your own people in the military?”

“Precisely,” Puyang said.

“If you wish to place your people, although the former Grand General is dead, the subordinates he cultivated are still in the army. Saving the Xu family’s women would indeed be a way to bestow a favor,” Wei Xiu said slowly.

Puyang slowly drank her tea. When it was finished, she placed the cup on the small table, her voice holding a barely perceptible coldness. “Does Sir think they should be saved?”

Wei Xiu lowered her head, gazing at the ebony tea table, and shook her head. “They should not be saved.”

This was completely contrary to what Puyang had expected. Surprised, she immediately said in a serious tone, “But Xu Luan’s remaining influence in the military…”

“Xu Luan’s wife, from the Li clan, is of the same clan as the Prince of Jing’s mother. His own mother’s maiden family, the Zhao clan, is the same as the Prince of Jin’s consort’s maternal family.” The Li and Zhao clans were implicated, but not the entire clans were executed. Only the branches to which Xu Luan’s wife and mother belonged were convicted. The rest are still at court. They suffered some setbacks, but have more or less recovered over the past three years.

With the Prince of Jing and the Prince of Jin having these connections to the Xu clan, how could Xu Luan’s former subordinates be without a master?

Wei Xiu analyzed it for Puyang, point by point.

How could Puyang not know of these connections? She had only thought that Wei Xiu would be thrown into a panic upon hearing this news. She hadn’t expected her to remain so meticulous in her thinking.

“I was too hasty,” Puyang said, no longer insisting.

But Wei Xiu smiled and said, “The matter of the Xu family’s women can be left for the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Jing to worry about. Your Highness need not feel they are pitiful.”

Puyang smiled along with her and nodded in agreement, but in her heart, she had not abandoned her suspicions. With Sir’s abilities, if she wanted to save her family, she wouldn’t necessarily need to borrow Puyang’s hand.

Wei Xiu lifted the pot and poured the princess a cup of tea. “However, Your Highness’s desire to gain influence in the military is indeed a good idea. It is just that this cannot be achieved overnight. If Your Highness trusts me, you can entrust this matter to me.”

Puyang was taken aback.

Wei Xiu said gently, “Has Your Highness forgotten? The Wei clan also has foundations in the military. Although my late father was at odds with the family, he was, after all, a son of the Wei clan.”

The Wei clan… Could she really be from the Wei clan? But why in her past life had Wei Xiu never had any dealings with the Wei clan? Even if she had followed her late father’s last wish not to get involved with them, how could the members of the Wei clan have restrained themselves and ignored her when they saw her rise to prominence?

Puyang stared at her blankly. Wei Xiu continued, “Your Highness’s maternal uncle commands the Feathered Forest Guard, which is good. However, it is uncertain whether the Feathered Forest Guard will still be controlled by the Wang clan when Your Highness needs to use them. Furthermore, the Wang clan is large, and each branch and household has its own plans. Even the old Chancellor may not be able to restrain them all. For now, Your Highness should refrain from trying to win them over. It is best to wait and observe first.”

Every word and every sentence was sound advice.

Puyang took it to heart. Her thoughts were in turmoil, and she still had many doubts about Wei Xiu’s identity, but she would not let her doubts show. She nodded and said, “I will do as Sir says.”

The west wind rose. Wei Xiu was situated directly in the path of the draft. She covered her lips and coughed twice. Puyang quickly moved to take off her own cloak to place it on her, but Wei Xiu shook her head, stopping her.

Puyang also felt it was improper to cover Sir with her own robe. In Sir’s mind, there was still a distinction between men and women between them. Acting this way, Wei Xiu might think her frivolous and casual. So she said, “The wind is coming through the door, which will only make you ill. I will push Sir inside.”

Wei Xiu said, “Thank you for your trouble.” Once inside the inner chamber, she added, “If Your Highness has other matters, please go and attend to them. And in the palace, do not neglect the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue.”

Although she had moved out of the palace, her relationship with the Emperor still needed to be carefully maintained.

Puyang understood. She agreed to everything and then took her leave.

When Puyang returned to her bedchamber, she saw the courtyard ground covered with fallen leaves, and several eunuchs were sweeping them up.

The ground was full of withered leaves. The brooms made a rustling sound as they swept.

Puyang couldn’t help but stop. She stood under the eaves, watching the palace attendants sweep, recalling every word Wei Xiu had just said, her heart filled with contradiction and confusion. More than once, she had thought about bringing Sir here, where they would plan their grand strategy together. Spring, summer, autumn, winter, through all four seasons, that bamboo grove would remain verdant. Sir liked to brew wine, so she would bury the entire grove with clear spirits. Sir did not like being an official, so she would be free and unrestrained, not bound by Puyang.

But what was happening now? It had only been a day, and already she was suspicious? She had just tested her, and there was nothing suspicious. Was that still not enough to dispel her doubts?

Puyang sighed deeply, her confusion even harder to dispel. The west wind swept through, scattering the fallen leaves on the ground. Puyang remembered the leaf from yesterday and ordered someone to bring her the clothes she had worn then.

Fortunately, the clothes had not yet been sent to be washed.

Yesterday, she had casually tucked the fallen leaf into her sleeve pocket, and it was still there. After a night in her sleeve, it had not withered. Puyang took out a book and pressed the leaf inside it.

The book closed. She pressed her palm against the cover and thought to herself: If I have wronged Sir this time, let this leaf be a warning to me never to doubt again. But if it is as I suspect, then this leaf will be the last thing I ever take from Sir, from Mount Mang!

The palm resting on the book clenched into a fist. Puyang said to her attendants, “Store this book away carefully. From now on, wherever I go, it goes!”

In the following days, Puyang interacted with Wei Xiu as usual. She went to the palace from time to time. When the Emperor saw her, his expression was pleased, yet he had to put on a stern face to scold her: “So you still know how to come back?”

Puyang had no choice but to linger before him for a while longer.

“Other princesses, before they marry, think of pleasing their parents and staying by their side. Only you insist on running outside. Does the palace confine you?”

Puyang obediently let the Emperor speak. When he could no longer keep a straight face, she served him tea and snacks. The Emperor sighed, no longer having the heart to pick on her, and turned to serious matters. “But you are not young anymore. Father wishes to choose a husband for you. Is there anyone you have in mind?”

Puyang walked over, took the Emperor’s right arm, and walked outside with him, saying, “Your daughter does not have such thoughts yet. Father, please don’t mention it again.”

The Emperor gave her a suspicious look. “Truly? But you seem to have something on your mind lately.”

“Even if I do, it is about other things.”

“What things?”

“During the last autumn hunt, your daughter spotted several foxes but ended up hunting only two. It’s not even enough for a single fox-fur cloak.”

The Emperor laughed heartily. “Just for that?”

Her arrows were not fast enough. Even with good aim, it was useless; the prey had already escaped.

The Emperor patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I will find a master for you. I guarantee you’ll hunt more next autumn.”

“I want General Wei of the Chariots and Cavalry,” Puyang requested.

She wanted to verify Wei Xiu’s words with Wei You, but Wei You was always in the military barracks. She rarely had a chance to see him, and visiting him rashly without a reason would only arouse suspicion.

The Emperor hesitated. “Why Minister Wei?”

Wei You commanded the Tiger Warriors and was busy with official duties. How could he find the time to teach a princess horsemanship and archery? Before Puyang could answer, the Emperor waved his hand. “No, Minister Wei is a pillar of the state. He cannot be treated lightly.”

“So in Father’s eyes, teaching your daughter horsemanship and archery is a slight.”

The Emperor knew he had misspoken and quickly said, “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that you’re learning for fun, at most as a form of exercise. How could Minister Wei find the time? Besides, there are many in the court skilled in horsemanship and archery. Why must it be him?”

“Though there are many skilled in horsemanship and archery, Minister Wei is the most outstanding. A great master produces a brilliant student. Your daughter wants to learn well.”

The Emperor was helpless. Knowing he couldn’t win the argument, he had to say, “Let me ask for Minister Wei’s opinion. A court minister must be treated with courtesy, not ordered about like a servant.”

Among the princes, there was not yet one to whom he could impart all his knowledge. Only Puyang was always by his side, so he would offer her guidance from time to time. Over time, it became a habit, and he often taught her.

Puyang listened with her hands respectfully clasped, acknowledged his words, and then said, “Since Father has given this instruction, your daughter will prepare a gift and make a trip to the Wei residence.”

The Emperor started to laugh. “Good, then you go. If Minister Wei is unwilling, don’t you come crying to Us for an imperial edict.”

Puyang said, “Alright.”

The Emperor pointed at her and shook his head, his affection overflowing.

If it were a prince consorting with the General of Chariots and Cavalry who commanded the Tiger Warriors, the Emperor would certainly be worried. But Puyang was a princess, and one who was not involved with any of the princes. The last time she went to the Prince of Dai’s residence, she even had someone report back to the palace. How could the Emperor not trust her? If she said she was learning horsemanship and archery, then she must be learning horsemanship and archery.

Puyang supported the Emperor as they walked slowly along the palace path. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the shore of Kunming Pool.

The tree branches by the pool were all withered. There were pots of meticulously cultivated chrysanthemums in full bloom. The Emperor bent down to admire them, and Puyang joined him, offering a comment or two from time to time.

All the splendor of the garden had faded; only these bloomed alone, defying the frost, their proud spirit manifest. The two of them looked over a row. Although they bloomed with vigor, they were ultimately the same varieties they were used to seeing year after year, offering nothing new.

The Emperor quickly lost interest.

After walking a few more steps, they saw a dozen or so eunuchs carrying pots of flowers toward them.

As they drew near, they moved to the sides of the path, intending to wait for the Emperor and the Princess to pass. But the Emperor was drawn to the flowers in their hands. Leaning on Puyang’s arm, he slowly walked over.

They were black chrysanthemums.

The petals were like silk, the color like ink—solemn without losing its liveliness, magnificent without losing its charm. Among the many flower colors, it was extremely eye-catching. The Emperor bent down, his fingers brushing lightly over a petal. He seemed to like it, but after just one touch, he straightened up. Seeing his placid expression, Puyang knew the flower was not to his liking.

The Emperor said, “These flowers are blooming well. Send two pots to Consort Li’s place.”

Consort Li was the mother of the Prince of Jing.

Puyang’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly, but only for a moment. She then smiled and said to the Emperor, “There is a pavilion ahead. Would Father like to go and rest his feet?”