Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 37

The battle in Liangzhou grew more urgent by the day, yet time did not slow for it. New Year’s Eve arrived in a hurry.

The Emperor, vexed by the situation in Liangzhou, spent his days in the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue discussing matters with his ministers. There was not a trace of festive cheer inside or outside the court; instead, the atmosphere was tense and somber.

On New Year’s Eve, the various princes with their consorts and children, and the princesses with their consorts, entered the palace for a banquet.

Puyang entered the palace after noon.

When she arrived at the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue, she heard angry shouts from within. After asking a young eunuch at the door, she learned that ministers were inside. She thought for a moment, then went to the nearby Hall of Containing Light.

When she had moved out of the palace, the Emperor had ordered this hall to be kept for her, so Puyang had left some of her staff behind.

Returning to her former residence after several months, she saw only a ground covered in white snow and the gaunt shapes of withered branches. Under the gloomy, oppressive winter sky, the grand hall seemed to have lost its color, steeped in a heavy twilight air.

The palace attendants inside, seeing the princess arrive, hurried out to greet her. Puyang simply waved her hand, telling them to go about their business. She took two or three attendants with her for a casual stroll in the small garden behind the Hall of Containing Light.

Winter always made one feel a particular desolation. The flowers in the garden had withered, their branches bare, with only a few plum trees still in bloom. They were white plums, their blossoms pale and elegant, like lingering snow reflected on water.

Puyang glanced at them from a distance, feeling that the white plums seemed to shrink back, lacking the bright and captivating charm of red plums.

In truth, it was merely a difference in her state of mind.

If, on that day at the Western Hills, she had been admiring white plums with her teacher, she might now feel that red plums were garish and lacked the pure, refined beauty of the white.

Puyang knew this well, so she decided not to look any longer and slowly walked elsewhere.

After a turn around the garden, she went into the hall for tea and bestowed gold coins and a banquet for the evening upon the staff who remained here. Only then did Puyang head back toward the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue.

Upon her return, several imperial princes and princesses were already waiting quietly outside the hall doors.

Seeing Puyang, the Prince of Jin smiled and said, “Seventh Lady is here. That’s good. Now we won’t have to wait here for nothing.”

It was as if he was certain that the doors to the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue would open the moment Puyang arrived. The thought that they had been waiting for some time, coupled with the fact that Puyang did indeed hold more sway with their father, left the other princes and princesses feeling a bit sour.

Puyang, as if not noticing the shifting expressions on their faces, stopped gracefully and looked at the Prince of Jin with a half-smile. “Is my elder brother jealous of his little sister? Tsk, tsk. My brother is so lovely, your jealousy could rival that of any beauty in the palace. It’s a pity you’re not a princess, otherwise I’m afraid there’d be no place left for me.”

The princes and princesses who had just been feeling sour burst out laughing. The more timid ones, realizing their loss of composure, quickly covered their mouths. The Prince of Zhao and the Prince of Dai, however, made no effort to hide their amusement, their gazes toward the Prince of Jin full of ridicule.

It was true. No matter how favored Seventh Lady was, she was still a princess. So what if His Majesty doted on her to the heavens? Could he give her the throne? The Prince of Jin was just being petty and spiteful.

The Prince of Zhao had been implicated by Qian Wu’s failure and had been running around everywhere these past days, having a very difficult time. Seeing the Prince of Jin embarrassed made him happy. He grinned, his voice booming, “I was wondering why I always found my younger brother so endearing. Turns out you’re a little mai—”

The Prince of Jin glared at him, biting out each word: “Brother… Prince… of… Zhao!”

“—den.” The Prince of Zhao was not afraid of him. He finished his sentence with a sneer and even let out a couple of pointed laughs.

“It’s the new year, brother, don’t get angry,” the Prince of Dai quickly interjected as the Prince of Jin was about to erupt, cutting him off.

The Prince of Jing remained silent out of caution, but it was clear he was not on the Prince of Jin’s side either.

The Prince of Jin swallowed his anger, finally forcing down the bitter resentment.

Puyang never suffered being publicly slighted. Everyone knew His Majesty doted on her, and she couldn’t be bothered to argue the point. In any case, the rift between her and the Prince of Jin could not be mended, so she might as well have some fun teasing him.

Besides, Puyang glanced around. To these princes and princesses, it was more reassuring for her to be a bit willful and domineering.

The farce before the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue passed in an instant. Aside from the few involved who took it to heart, the others treated it as a joke and moved on.

Before long, the Emperor emerged and led the princes and princesses to the Two Forms Hall.

Today’s family banquet was set in the Two Forms Hall. As there was no Empress in the palace, the Emperor had appointed Consort Li to preside, assisted by Consort Cheng, the Prince of Zhao’s mother. Both consorts were long-serving members of the palace and were well-versed in all ceremonies, so everything proceeded without a mistake.

By the time the Emperor and the others arrived, the banquet was ready to begin.

As night fell, the white snow outside reflected a faint light, while the hall within was ablaze with lanterns. The princes and princesses all wore smiles, and the young imperial grandchildren were innocent and adorable. No matter how depressed the Emperor felt, his spirits couldn’t help but lift at such a scene.

Everyone deliberately tried to please the Emperor, offering toasts in order of seniority. The Emperor drank a little from each, but when it came to Puyang’s turn, he drained his cup completely.

The Prince of Jin, having just lost face to Puyang and hating the Prince of Zhao for kicking him while he was down, now sought to get his own back. He was seated close to the Prince of Zhao and, leaning over, asked in a low voice, “I wonder if my second brother knows of a captain in Liangzhou by the name of Zhou Qi?”

The moment the Prince of Zhao heard the name Zhou Qi, he knew what was coming. His expression immediately soured, and he shot a sideways glance at the Prince of Jin. “I do not. Why are you so concerned? Could he be one of your men?”

“Brother, you jest. How could I be so fortunate as to acquire such a talent?” The Prince of Jin smiled, sighing as if in great relief. “Qian Wu was ambushed and his ranks fell into disarray. The soldiers fled in all directions, and he, like some greenhorn who knows nothing of warfare, only thought of saving his own skin, abandoning his men. If not for this Captain Zhou stepping forward to rally the remaining troops, I fear all thirty thousand would have been either killed or captured, with not a single one left.”

The Prince of Zhao’s face was already very dark. He had a rash temperament but was not entirely witless. He knew the Prince of Jin was bringing this up now to provoke him into losing his composure and making a scene, which would earn him their father’s displeasure.

Knowing his intent, the Prince of Zhao naturally restrained himself. He just downed a cup of wine to suppress his anger and said with a cold smile, “Brother Prince of Jin certainly is well-informed.”

Seeing him hold back, a flicker of disappointment crossed the Prince of Jin’s eyes. But the enmity between them was deep, and seeing him in this pathetic state of suppressed rage was quite amusing. “Who in the court doesn’t know? Inspector Qian ought to thank this Master Zhou. If not for him bravely shouldering the burden and saving over ten thousand men, Inspector Qian’s crime would be far heavier.”

The Prince of Zhao gave a cold snort and turned to speak to someone else.

Their voices were low, and with the music and dancing in the hall, the Emperor, seated on his high throne, did not hear them.

As the banquet drew to a close and the guests began to depart, the Emperor’s good mood had not faded. He ordered for specially minted gold coins to be brought and distributed them to each of his grandchildren.

Puyang sat in her seat, watching with a smile as the imperial grandchildren received their gifts, but her heart was filled with a gloomy haze.

Xiao Dewen, as the Imperial Grandson, stood at the head of all the grandchildren, followed by five of his younger cousins, the youngest of whom had just learned to walk.

He was dressed in the formal attire of a commandery prince, his posture straight and his bearing dignified. Every movement already possessed the air of the imperial family. When he stepped forward to kneel, his voice was clear and audible, making a favorable impression.

The Imperial Grandson was fatherless and lived outside the palace, so the Emperor rarely saw him. Children grow quickly, and seeing him today, he seemed like a completely new person. It reminded the Emperor of his eldest son’s adorable childhood, and the already warm smile on his face grew even more benevolent.

Puyang, sitting to the side, sneered inwardly, but her expression was gentle and kind. When Xiao Dewen came before her, she, like the others, had an attendant present a red silk pouch containing a few gold coins as a gift for the Imperial Grandson. Xiao Dewen extended both hands and accepted it respectfully, saying sweetly, “Your nephew thanks Aunt Puyang.”

After speaking, he even lifted his head and, with a child’s unique curiosity, sized Puyang up.

Puyang gave him a gentle smile and reached out to pat his head lightly in a very affectionate manner.

Xiao Dewen blinked, a shy smile forming on his lips, and quickly ran to the Prince of Jing’s side to receive his gift.

Puyang watched him go with a smile. She had not seen this nephew for a year. At such a young age, he could recognize people on sight and showed no fear, even hinting at a sense of closeness. It was clear someone in the Prince of Donghai’s residence must be coaching him.

This was the first time Puyang had seen Xiao Dewen since her rebirth, and the sight of him had ruined her mood.

After the palace banquet dispersed, Puyang returned to her residence late at night.

Her mind was racing, wondering who was teaching Xiao Dewen. Was it his mother, or was there some other expert guiding him? The wine from the banquet began to take effect, making the carriage feel stuffy and her head spin. Puyang lifted the window curtain for some air and saw a figure standing under the lanterns at her distant residence gate, as if waiting for her return. The distance was great, and the person’s face was a blur, shrouded in a warm glow that obscured their features.

A cool breeze blew, and the serving maid in the carriage shivered, but Puyang was oblivious, staring blankly at the figure by the gate.

The carriage gradually drew closer, and the person at the gate came into focus.

It was her steward.

A sudden pain pierced Puyang’s heart. She clearly knew it was impossible, so what had she been hoping for just now?