Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 35

The matter was already very clear. From the tone of the Emperor and the old Chancellor, one could tell that no one in the entire court was optimistic about Qian Wu. She quickly understood that leaving Qian Wu there to manage the situation was, firstly, the result of political maneuvering in the court—the Prince of Zhao had won. Secondly, just as Wei Xiu had said, the court did not yet take a rebellion of several thousand people to heart.

Puyang naturally saw this clearly.

A battle, when recorded on paper and compiled into history books, was often described in just a few strokes. But in reality, it could last for days, dozens of days, or even years.

After that day, news from Liangzhou came only in terse memorials. Qian Wu swore an oath that he would annihilate the Qiang and Rong in one fell swoop and display the might of Great Wei.

The Emperor was greatly pleased to hear this, and the court was also invigorated. Having lived through peaceful days for too long, the old ministers actually began to miss the times when the flames of war had spread across the nine provinces.

After reading Qian Wu’s memorial, Puyang tossed it onto the desk and said coldly, “Ever since the Qiang and Rong were moved within the passes, they have been the people of our Wei. This turmoil is an internal affair, so what ‘national might’ is there to display? This is a national disgrace! By saying this, is the Inspector not causing division? No wonder that within three months of taking office, he ‘lost the harmony of the Qiang and Hu peoples’!”

“It is indeed a disgrace to Wei, but how many in the court can see that? Qian Wu is still gloating.” The Emperor’s expression darkened for a moment. What was the reason for this phenomenon? It was the deep-rooted belief that these people were not of their kind. Not only the court, but even the common people believed this battle was a war between Great Wei and foreign tribes.

The Emperor saw this clearly. He was not a monarch obsessed with his reputation, so he did not become particularly angry. He just wanted to wait and see how Qian Wu would clean up the mess after this battle was over. However, he had summoned Puyang to ease her mind and had shown her the memorial for that reason. He hadn’t expected her gaze to be so sharp, nor that she would become even angrier. He couldn’t help but say with amusement, “My child, you have quite a temper.”

Dou Hui, standing to the side, also chimed in with a placating smile. He stepped forward, picked up the memorial, and placed it on the pile of documents that had already been reviewed.

Puyang pressed her fingers to her forehead. She had been feeling somewhat distracted lately. Every time she closed her eyes, Wei Xiu’s face would appear before her, which made her extremely frustrated.

Sir Wei was, after all, a woman. No matter how beautiful she was, she was still a woman. Appreciation was acceptable, as was respect. Admiration was also within reason. But if it was romantic love…

“What is it? Is something troubling you?” Seeing Puyang’s somber expression, the Emperor’s face also grew stern. He said with great displeasure, “If you have difficulties, why don’t you come and tell your father! You’ve become so distant since leaving the palace. Come, tell me now. Father will see you through it!”

He had the air of someone who would resolve any problem for her, no matter what it was.

Puyang finally managed a smile. Though her heart was still heavy with worry, she did not want the Emperor to worry about her. She said casually, “The New Year is almost upon us, yet there are still so many troubles. It’s hard to have a good celebration.”

A rebellion in the twelfth month was indeed vexing, but that was definitely not the reason for Seventh Lady’s distress. The Emperor knew Puyang well. When she encountered difficulties, she would usually run about in all directions, actively seeking a solution, and would never become so dejected and trapped in her own thoughts.

But children grow up and will always have things they are unwilling to share. Although the Emperor felt a little regretful and disappointed, he did not want to force Puyang. He pretended to believe her. “Indeed, it’s a poorly timed disturbance. But speaking of which, there will be a banquet in the palace for the New Year, and all the princes and marquises will be invited.”

Puyang looked over, listening intently as the Emperor continued. The Emperor smiled faintly, leaned closer to Puyang, and lowered his voice, whispering mysteriously in her ear, “If Seventh Lady sees a fine young gentleman she fancies at the banquet, you might as well…” Seeing Puyang’s gaze suddenly turn icy, the Emperor couldn’t help but burst into laughter. He had finally found a bit of the old fun of annoying Seventh Lady and watching her turn and run to the Empress’s palace.

It had been a long time since the Emperor had been so cheerful. Every day was filled with endless political affairs. The princes constantly vied for power, and the ministers weighed their own gains and losses more heavily than the welfare of the people. Troubles big and small arose throughout the realm, and now, even the Qiang and Rong who had been moved within the passes were restless. He had not been able to relax like this for a long time. The furrows on his brow, etched by the burdens of the state, seemed to have been smoothed by a pair of gentle hands.

Puyang’s heart ached for her father’s toil. Seeing his rare, hearty laughter, her icy gaze melted, becoming as gentle as a river in spring when the ice thaws. She said in a soft tone, “Your Majesty should not speak such nonsense.”

“Alright.” Having had a good laugh, the Emperor was in high spirits and said readily, “But this is a matter you truly need to take to heart.”

He was no longer young. When Puyang was born, he was already over thirty. He and the Empress had loved each other for half a lifetime to have this one daughter, so naturally, he cherished and doted on her with boundless affection. After the new year, Puyang would be eighteen. Her marriage was a matter that could not be postponed again and again. With Puyang’s mother gone, the Emperor did not trust the officials to handle it; how could those under him possibly know Seventh Lady’s preferences? Over the years, he had secretly kept an eye out for Puyang, personally accumulating her dowry. Now, all that was missing was a candidate for Prince Consort.

Puyang smiled candidly. “If your daughter is to marry, it will only be by following my heart.”

The Emperor patted her shoulder. “That is only natural. You may choose whomever you like. With my daughter’s magnificence, who would not be a worthy match?”

The imperial house needed no one else to add to its splendor. In the Emperor’s heart, as long as Puyang was satisfied, that was all that mattered. The Prince Consort only needed to be a good young man; his family background was not the most important thing.

Puyang had lunch in the palace before returning home.

After talking with her father, Puyang’s heart felt much clearer.

The mansion was still in its usual orderly and impeccable state. The servants and maids each attended to their duties, acting according to the rules.

As Puyang alighted from her carriage at the mansion gate, the Chief Scribe came out to greet her. He first paid his respects, then reported, “Just now, a scholar submitted a card, stating his desire to enter Your Highness’s service and acknowledge you as his master.”

“Where is he?” Puyang asked as she walked inside.

“The man has been welcomed in by the Chief Scribe. He is waiting to be summoned as soon as Your Highness returns to the mansion,” A Rong said to Wei Xiu.

Jiang Zhen was one of the names on the list Wei Xiu had given to Yan Huan. Wei Xiu calculated the time; it seemed all dozen or so individuals had fallen into her net. Longxi was relatively close to Luoyang, so Jiang Zhen had arrived. The rest would probably have to wait until the ice on the roads melted in the spring before they could enter the capital.

She curved her lips into a faint smile. “The Princess and Sir Jiang will have a very pleasant conversation.”

Next, how to make people willingly submit to her service would depend on the Princess’s own methods.

Wei Xiu revealed a relaxed smile. A Rong, however, was a little worried. She thought for a moment and said, “The Princess hasn’t come for some days. This has never happened before.”

She used to come every day. Even if she said nothing and just sat for a cup of tea, the Princess would not be happy until she had visited. But for the past few days, the Princess seemed to have vanished without a trace. She had not set foot in the small courtyard for several days, and she hardly even stayed in the mansion, often going to the palace or out to banquets.

Wei Xiu’s relaxed smile froze on her lips, and the deep light in her eyes grew complex. After a long moment, she said calmly, “Don’t mind her.”

A Rong hesitated for a moment but ultimately said no more.

Just after noon, the sky darkened. It looked like another snow was coming. Wei Xiu gazed toward the doorway. It was empty. Worry began to rise in her. She carefully recalled her words and actions over the past few days and, only after confirming she had made no mistakes, did she feel at ease again, plotting her next move.

Wei Xiu’s prediction was correct.

A snow did indeed fall in the afternoon, swirling and fluttering, accompanied by the howling north wind, making it difficult to even go outside.

Puyang and Jiang Zhen talked cheerfully. After half an hour, Jiang Zhen said with emotion, “I came here on someone’s recommendation. I originally thought I would just give it a try, but I never expected to be treated with such generosity by Your Highness.”

Hearing him say he had come on someone’s recommendation, Puyang immediately understood that it must have been Wei Xiu who had guided him here.

“Sir Jiang, with your great talent, where could you not put it to use? By coming to my mansion, I am bathed in your light. Your presence brightens my humble home.” Puyang was very good at finding a person’s weak spot. For a man like Jiang Zhen, gold and silver were useless; he had to be treated with sincerity.

“Your Highness thinks too highly of me. In Longxi, I was but a low-level clerk.” He was talented, but his character was too straightforward, and he struggled at the bottom without a way to advance. Seeing that he was already in his fifties, he had estimated that he would likely spend the rest of his life in such frustrated obscurity. Who knew that a light would be shining here for him to find? He had been hesitant because she was a princess, but the Princess had dispelled his doubts with just a few words.

Cunning villains had their uses, and righteous men naturally had their benefits as well.

Puyang ordered someone to prepare the guest quarters and settle Jiang Zhen in comfortably. As for the word “official,” Puyang did not mention it. She would not immediately recommend Jiang Zhen to the court. She planned to use a reason Jiang Zhen could not refuse to keep him in her mansion first. There were still a few vacant positions in her household, not of high rank, around the sixth or seventh, but the difference between an official and a clerk was like the difference between heaven and earth. Once he had an official status, it would be easier to move up.

After Jiang Zhen withdrew, Puyang’s rapidly working mind came to a halt, and she became absent-minded again.

She had not been to the small courtyard for some days. With Sir Wei’s perceptiveness, she had probably already sensed something.

But how could she go? Going would only add more turmoil to her already chaotic state of mind.

She kept thinking of Wei Xiu—of her eyes, at times indifferent, at times gentle; of her spine, which, even in a wheelchair, was like an ancient pine, never bending. She even thought of what she had seen in her previous life just before she died: Wei Xiu’s figure, which could be described as frantic and distraught, and her eyes, filled with deep sorrow, shock, and anger.

They had not known each other for long. In her past life, she had quietly watched her from the side, and in this life, they had only spent half a year together. Yet, looking back, the scenes of Sir Wei smiling faintly or raising an eyebrow without a word were deeply etched in her heart.

She could only restrain herself from seeing Sir Wei, but that person’s figure lingered in her heart, impossible to dispel. She felt as if she were struggling in a fog, unable to break free.

What made Puyang even more uneasy was that at first, she felt that since Sir Wei was a woman, she should not harbor improper thoughts about her. But after not seeing her for several days, she faintly began to feel that it didn’t matter that she was a woman.

“Your Highness.” A maidservant entered.

Puyang looked over. Seeing it was a maid from Wei Xiu’s courtyard, her gaze tightened slightly. She said politely, “What is it?”

“Sir Wei heard that Your Highness has gained a worthy scholar and has specially sent a jug of fine wine for Your Highness to welcome him.” The maidservant was composed. As she spoke, she presented a sandalwood tray on which sat a white jade wine jug.

Puyang’s expression softened slightly. She rose and took the wine jug. After the maidservant withdrew, she said to her personal attendant, “Inform the household steward that for tonight’s banquet, I shall be the host.”