Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 45

The Emperor had summoned her for an audience today. Puyang accompanied Wei Xiu into the palace. The carriage was already prepared outside the residence, and the two of them emerged from Wei Xiu’s small courtyard, walking side by side.

Spring days were always filled with lingering rain. A sudden shower had just ceased, and the path was still wet.

The scenery within the residence was exquisite. Red flowers, beaten down by the rain, lay scattered across the ground. The dense, dark green leaves looked as if they had been washed, so verdant they seemed to drip with color. Looking out, the air seemed to be filled with a watery mist. Even breathing carried a damp scent.

Wei Xiu was dressed in black robes with a jade hairpin, her wheelchair moving at an unhurried pace. Puyang, too, showed no sign of haste, merely speaking to her about the etiquette for an imperial audience and the Emperor’s preferences.

Wei Xiu listened attentively, a faint smile on her lips, appearing quite pleased.

Seeing this, Puyang felt a little more at ease.

The carriage was steady and swift, and in just over an hour, it entered the palace gates.

Along the palace road, a Feathered Forest Guard stood at short intervals. Clad in armor, they stood tall and straight, holding long spears. From time to time, they encountered entire squads of patrolling soldiers. The security was extremely strict and solemn. Though there were people, not a single human voice could be heard.

An ordinary person would have been terrified by such a sight, but Wei Xiu showed no sign of alarm or worry. She merely glanced occasionally at the passing Feathered Forest Guards, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

Whenever a new dynasty was established after a period of war, the first few generations would always display a vigorous spirit. Only after several generations would a sense of decline appear. But the Wei was different. The Emperor had usurped the throne, gaining the country without war. The previous Zhou dynasty had already lasted four generations, and most of the officials in the court were former Zhou officials. This palace had also once been the Zhou palace; it could no longer display the atmosphere of a new dynasty.

Yet, seeing it in person now, this palace was still majestic, the military discipline orderly, without a trace of laxity. The Middle General of the Feathered Forest Guard deserved credit for this, but it was more likely a testament to the Emperor’s ability to command his subordinates.

Passing through the Imperial City and entering the inner palace, one could vaguely see eunuchs and palace maids. They often walked in groups of three or five, heads bowed, moving quickly, without any delay or laughter. Upon seeing the Princess’s carriage, they would retreat to the side of the road, bowing and waiting for it to pass before continuing on their way.

Their etiquette was flawless. Though they moved with rigid propriety, their faces showed no signs of oppression or distress.

Just by observing the Feathered Forest Guard and the palace servants, Wei Xiu knew that this palace city was extremely well-defended. If Luoyang were to fall one day, never mind the soldiers, even these palace servants could probably form a disciplined army of their own.

As the superior acts, so do the subordinates. One could already catch a glimpse of the monarch’s character.

Wei Xiu knew of this Emperor; he was considered a diligent ruler and was known to have his methods. At this moment, besides being shaken, she felt a deep sense of crisis. Her future actions would have to be even more meticulous.

She turned her head to look at Puyang.

Puyang smiled at her reassuringly. “Father is a good person. He won’t make things difficult for a person of insight.”

Wei Xiu also smiled. “I have long heard of it.”

The Hall of Proclaimed Virtue was near. It was magnificent and grand, standing tall like a mountain. Before it, a person felt so small, unable to help but feel a sense of submission and timidity.

Wei Xiu looked on woodenly. Her heart was beating fast—not from fear, not from shock. There seemed to be some nervousness, but more than that, it was excitement.

It was getting closer. Her enemy was right there. In a short while, she would see him. Wei Xiu was not worried that she would reveal her hatred.

Her family, hundreds of lives, from her grandmother in her eighties to a newborn infant, had all died by Xiao Yi’s sword. Except for her, not a single one survived. Having come this far, she felt that every step she took could leave a deep, bloody footprint, stained with dark red bl00d.

In those first few years, the moment her mother fell, the image of her father submerged in the slaughter, her brother’s face as he died with his eyes open—these scenes entered her dreams every night. It must have been the spirits of her family urging her on, telling her to live, to seek justice for all her kin.

Hatred, stained with bl00d, had long been deeply engraved in her soul. She had learned to hide it, learned to act like a true hermit, learned not to reveal any trace of it before others.

She was not worried at all about revealing anything in front of the Emperor.

But she desperately wanted to kill her enemy with her own hands today. It would be best to let the Emperor’s bl00d drain away bit by bit, to make him suffer endlessly before he died, to let her personally cut his flesh, dismember his corpse, grind his bones to dust, and scatter his soul! She had waited for many years. She thought that for the sake of final success, she could endure, could wait many more years. But at the thought that this person was just a short distance away, killing intent seized her entire mind. She only wanted to kill him, kill him, kill him!

“Sir.” Puyang suddenly spoke, interrupting Wei Xiu’s hate-filled impulse.

She was startled but concealed it quickly, not letting it show. She turned her head naturally, smiled, and said gently, “What is it, Your Highness?”

Puyang was about to speak when she noticed Wei Xiu’s collar was a bit messy. She naturally bent down to straighten it for her. The moment her slender, delicate fingers touched Wei Xiu’s collar, Wei Xiu flinched back in a defensive posture. Puyang’s hand paused, and she withdrew it. A barely perceptible flash of embarrassment and hurt appeared in her eyes.

Wei Xiu frowned slightly, raised her own hand to straighten her collar, and said, “We shouldn’t keep His Majesty waiting.”

Puyang glanced at her collar; it was now neat and proper. This was not the time to dwell on it. She said in a gentle voice, “You are aware of the purpose of this summons. It is said to be about the 【Discourse on Relocating the Rong Tribes】, but in reality, it is to keep you, Sir, at court. I imagine you already have a response, so I won’t say more.” A hint of worry appeared on her face. Her imperial father was kind and tolerant towards her, but not necessarily benevolent and patient with others. Her voice became even softer as she said, “In a little while, during the audience, His Majesty will most likely not let me stay. I hope you will be cautious, Sir.”

Puyang had already told Wei Xiu what the Emperor was wary of. She also knew Wei Xiu would not enter the court. The difficult part today was how to refuse the Emperor. But was the Emperor someone you could simply refuse? The more brilliant and powerful a monarch was, the less they tolerated subjects saying no. How could Puyang not worry?

It would be terrible if her beloved father were to hurt the person she loved.

Wei Xiu could see her worry. She sighed inwardly but said aloud, “I know what I’m doing. Your Highness need not worry.” She added with a smile, “If Your Highness cannot be present, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to wait for me and take me back to the residence later.”

Puyang looked at her. “How can you call it a bother? I am willing to wait for you for as long as it takes.”

The words sounded like a double entendre. Wei Xiu did not reply, but looked straight ahead and continued forward.

There were no ministers having an audience in the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue. As soon as Puyang and Wei Xiu arrived, they were led inside by a eunuch.

The Emperor was sitting behind his desk. A memorial was spread out on it before him; he had likely been reading it earlier. As Wei Xiu entered, the person pushing her wheelchair had been switched from Yan Huan to a eunuch. She looked ahead, and the Emperor’s face came into her line of sight.

This was the first time she had seen this Son of Heaven. With just one glance, his appearance was carved into her mind as if by a knife. Wei Xiu looked at him, her hands under her sleeves clenched into fists.

“Go! Don’t all die here!”

Wei Xiu seemed to hear her father’s shout.

“A-Meng, hide here, don’t make a sound. Your brother will go lure them away.”

Her brother’s soft instructions echoed in her ears.

Wei Xiu moved forward bit by bit, her eyes fixed only on the Emperor. The Emperor was also sizing her up.

“A-Meng, live on, and avenge our parents!”

Her brother’s resentful voice pierced sharply into her mind. Wei Xiu felt a dull ache in her temples. She felt her soul being torn apart by hatred.

Finally, they were three steps from the desk. The eunuch pushing the wheelchair behind her stopped. The cries of her family were all stored away in her heart. Wei Xiu bent at the waist and bowed. “Greetings, Your Majesty.” After a pause, she added, “Please forgive this commoner for the crime of being unable to perform the full rites.”

The Emperor did not speak, sizing up Wei Xiu. The hall fell silent, the air filled with a heart-pounding, majestic pressure. Puyang felt a little uneasy, but she understood the art of being an emperor and knew that he would not want anyone to break the atmosphere he had deliberately created. So she stood silently to the side, appearing no different than usual.

After a moment, or perhaps a long while, Wei Xiu remained bent at the waist, steady and stable, showing no anxiety or fear. The Emperor looked at her, his majestic eyes gradually turning gentle and satisfied. He smiled. “The great scholar is excused from the rites!”

Wei Xiu straightened up unhurriedly.

“Sir, you once saved my beloved daughter, and I have yet to thank you. I truly feel regretful,” the Emperor said with a smile. He then bid Puyang to sit as well and signaled for tea to be served.

Wei Xiu said calmly, “Your Majesty has already bestowed generous gifts. How can you say you have not expressed thanks?”

Hearing this, the Emperor laughed heartily and changed the subject, asking about what Wei Xiu saw and heard during her seclusion on Mount Mang. Wei Xiu answered each question, with Puyang occasionally adding a word. The direction of the conversation was always firmly controlled by the Emperor. His occasional casual joke seemed to hide a turbulent undercurrent. Wei Xiu responded appropriately, neither aggressive nor timid, displaying the demeanor of a renowned scholar.

The Emperor’s words progressed in layers, meant to test Wei Xiu’s talent. If she were all form and no substance, the Emperor would give her some things and let her go. If she had talent, the Emperor would probe bit by bit to see how deep her abilities ran, and also to understand her character and how she could be used.

Finally, the conversation turned to Wei Xiu’s family.

Wei Xiu repeated the story she had told Puyang. This matter could be verified, and the Emperor had already investigated it. Grand Tutor Wei had already vaguely mentioned it to the Emperor.

After a cup of tea, the Emperor said to Puyang, “There’s nothing interesting here. You don’t need to keep your father company. Go find someone to amuse yourself with in the rear palace.”

There was another princess in the rear palace, around the same age as Puyang. Puyang naturally agreed, rose, and withdrew.

Wei Xiu watched her leave, then turned back to see the Emperor looking at her.

So far, the Emperor was satisfied. Anyone who could produce the 【Discourse on Relocating the Rong Tribes】 was no mediocrity. It was clear that Wei Xiu had not hidden her abilities, which pleased him greatly.

“Sir’s great work, I have read it. It was like a sudden enlightenment, a moment of clarity. But,” the Emperor said thoughtfully, “relocate, how should they be relocated?”

The discourse only wrote about the necessity of relocation, but not how to do it. So the Emperor asked.

Wei Xiu replied, “Two strategies. The inferior strategy is expulsion, the superior strategy is integration.”

“Oh?” the Emperor said with great interest. “What is expulsion, and what is integration?”

“Expulsion is to move them beyond the passes; integration is to break up the Qiang, Rong, and Yi peoples, have them live interspersed with our Han people, and move them towards the Central Plains.”

The Emperor pondered. He had already thought about expulsion beyond the passes. Taking advantage of the recent victory, he could drive all these uncivilized barbarians out of the passes, close the country’s gates, and cut off trade with those beyond the passes. After a few years, they would surely submit. Then, by showing grace, it would be a method of combining might and mercy.

But in Wei Xiu’s words, this was the inferior strategy.