Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 47

The rain was still falling, fine as silk. It did not seem heavy, yet anyone who stepped outside would find their clothes soaked through.

The Emperor saw Puyang and Wei Xiu to the entrance of the Hall of Proclaimed Virtue. Dou Hui, feeling the damp chill in the air, quickly ordered someone to fetch cloaks. The Emperor looked up at the gray, overcast sky beyond the eaves and said in a measured tone, “Sir Wei possesses great abilities. I ought not to force the issue, but to let the years be squandered before then would truly be a pity.”

The campaign against Qi and Song was a distant prospect, and a worthy talent could not be left to languish in the wilderness. The Emperor tried to persuade her with kind words.

Wei Xiu politely declined. “Each person has their own aspirations. I hope Your Majesty will understand.”

The Emperor’s expression darkened with a hint of displeasure. He did not look at Wei Xiu, but continued to gaze at the rain, which was now falling more heavily. “The famed scholar Chen Du also once had his aspirations,” he said unhurriedly. “He went astray, but fortunately, he had a sudden awakening and now stands in the court.”

The reason Chen Du had become an official of Wei was that his three younger brothers had all been dismissed from their posts and sent home. His parents and family had taken turns persuading him not to damage the entire family’s future for the sake of his own ambition. Frustrated, he had moved out of his family home to live elsewhere, but in the end, he had still compromised and entered the Chongwen Institute as a compiler.

Hearing the Emperor use Chen Du as an example, Puyang’s brow twitched. She resisted the urge to glance at Wei Xiu. The eunuch who had fetched the cloaks hurried over, and Puyang personally took one and draped it over the Emperor. The Emperor adjusted the collar himself, then glanced at Wei Xiu and smiled. “Of course, you are different from Chen Du, Sir Wei. He is decadent and naive, while you bear the world in your heart. How can the two be compared?”

Puyang chuckled, as if backing up the Emperor. “They are indeed different. While Chen Du has his respectable points, he cannot compare to Sir Wei’s deep understanding of the greater good.”

The Emperor’s expression indeed improved upon hearing the words “deep understanding of the greater good.” Wei Xiu glanced at Puyang. When it came to knowing exactly how to handle the Emperor, no one could compare to Her Highness. She followed suit, saying, “The purpose of achieving learning is to serve the world. My heart is clear on this.”

But she did not agree to enter the court.

The Emperor was somewhat reassured. He said with a smile, “Sir Wei, you may go. Come again tomorrow!”

They arrived back at the residence just before noon.

Puyang did not say a word the entire way. She held an umbrella, walking beside Wei Xiu to shield her from the rain. The small courtyard was just ahead. Wei Xiu assumed the princess would, as usual, insist on staying for a meal, but to her surprise, she stopped at the courtyard gate.

Puzzled, Wei Xiu raised her head in confusion. Her gaze fell on the princess’s shoulder, and only then did she see that the other side of her body was outside the umbrella’s cover, her clothes already thin and damp.

“Your Highness…” She reached for the umbrella handle, intending to move it toward Puyang’s side, but Puyang took the opportunity to grasp her hand. Her fingertips were cool and damp with rain. The moment they touched, Wei Xiu instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Puyang held it tightly.

Her palm was also cold; she must have caught a chill.

“Your Highness should go change your clothes first,” Wei Xiu said. Unable to break free, she stopped struggling and advised her gently.

Puyang did not speak. She just looked at Wei Xiu, and Wei Xiu returned her gaze.

But their demeanors were different. Puyang was open and magnanimous, making no effort to hide her gentleness. The light in her eyes was like a river on a spring night, reflecting the quiet, soft glow of the moon. In comparison, Wei Xiu’s refusal to look away seemed like a feigned show of strength to cover her retreat, like a deserter who had thrown down their weapons but refused to admit their own weakness.

Wei Xiu finally averted her eyes.

Puyang released her hand and placed the umbrella handle into Wei Xiu’s palm, letting her hold it. Wei Xiu felt an indescribable agitation. She endured it and said gently, “I invite Your Highness to take shelter from the rain in my rooms.”

Puyang did not accept. She suddenly smiled. “Sir Wei seems very afraid of looking at me.” As if her weakness had been struck, Wei Xiu became even more flustered and looked away without a word.

Puyang smiled, pressing her lips together. She did not push her, just shook her head and turned to leave. Her steps were leisurely as she departed gracefully in the rain. The palace attendants behind her hurried to hold an umbrella over her. Surrounded by a crowd of people, she soon disappeared at the end of the path.

The rain suddenly intensified. Bean-sized drops fell, splashing against the ground. Wei Xiu watched the direction Puyang had left, closed her eyes, and said quietly, “Let’s go inside.”

The next day, Wei Xiu was not summoned. Instead, Puyang was called to the palace.

The Emperor summoned Puyang for two matters. The first was how to make the best use of Wei Xiu’s talents. Although each person has their own aspirations, as an emperor, he was unwilling to see someone with such talent hiding in the mountains, not thinking of serving the country.

After days of continuous rain, the water in the Taiye Pool had risen. The banks were covered in lush, fresh green grass, and the willows had grown long branches that swayed slowly with the wind.

The Emperor walked along the pebble path by the pool, speaking slowly with Puyang. “Not one of your several older brothers understands why I suppress the great families and elevate the commoner-gentry. Instead, because the great families are powerful, they get entangled with them. But you understand. You’ve done many things for your father, and never once have you sought credit for it.”

Puyang had recently recommended several people, including Jiang Zhen, to the Emperor. They were all from commoner backgrounds and possessed great talent. The Emperor was overjoyed and first placed this group in inconspicuous official positions, letting them achieve results before considering promotions.

“Those few are quite good. Since they are not conspicuous now, none of the court officials have said anything.” The Emperor had accumulated authority for eighteen years. Appointing a few minor officials of the sixth or seventh rank was a courtesy the court officials would grant him; no one would be meddlesome. “These people came from your household, so they bear the mark of the Princess’s Residence. There is no need to worry about them going off to curry favor with the various princes and great families.”

When he spoke of the princes, the Emperor’s face darkened, showing deep disappointment, that feeling of hating iron for not becoming steel.

Puyang, however, would not kick them while they were down at this moment, nor would she rush to persuade the Emperor to consider his imperial grandsons. She simply smiled.

“And then there is Sir Wei,” the Emperor stopped, knitting his brows and turning to look at Puyang. “Do you think he is genuinely unwilling to take up office, or is he like those who fish for fame, raising his price on the spot?”

He found it quite strange. Chen Du was unwilling to be an official because he was unwilling to be a minister of Wei, clinging to his stubborn and antiquated loyalty. But Wei Xiu was clearly not like that. Her coming to the capital to live in the Princess’s Residence showed she had a mind to engage with the world. Being able to present the 《Discourse on Relocating the Rong Tribes》 showed she also had an interest in the court. But when it came to actually entering service, she was unwilling?

The Emperor did not believe Wei Xiu’s explanation. She wanted to be a minister of a chaotic era, so she could not enter service first, and must wait for war to break out between the north and south? This was clearly a deliberate excuse. But the Emperor had been the Son of Heaven for so many years and had seen countless types of people. How many could play mind games under his nose? He could still distinguish truth from falsehood. Wei Xiu was genuinely as she said, unwilling to enter the court as an official.

This contradiction had the Emperor confused.

At this moment, the wind was calm, and the surface of the Taiye Pool shimmered. Ahead was a pavilion, an excellent spot for watching fish. Whenever one leaned on the railing and scattered a bit of fish food, a school of fish was always drawn over.

Puyang looked toward it, helped the Emperor walk over slowly, and said, “From my months of observation, I believe Sir Wei has the desire to guide the world, but truly has no heart for entering the court as an official.”

“Oh?” the Emperor sighed, quite surprised.

A heart for the world, but no heart for an official career. This was truly unheard of.

Guiding the nation—wasn’t the purpose of that to be ennobled as a marquis and appointed a minister?

The Emperor scoffed, “If it is as my child says, then he is truly a remarkable person.”

Disliking glory and splendor, not coveting power and influence, simply guiding the nation for the sake of guiding the nation. Truly a remarkable person.

Puyang smiled along with him. The pavilion was not far. She turned and signaled a palace attendant to bring some fish food, then helped the Emperor into the pavilion to sit by the railing.

A breeze happened to rise over the pool, cool yet gentle, calming one’s mood.

“At first, I was also puzzled. I thought she was like Chen Du, clinging to the former dynasty, so I extended an invitation. To my surprise, she accepted at once. Then I knew that although this person was in the mountains, her heart was in the capital. Later, when Father was worried about the Qiang and Rong tribes, I mentioned it in front of her. She devoted herself for several days, shutting herself away, and presented the 《Discourse on Relocating the Rong Tribes》. At that point, I thought she had her heart set on an official career and was just waiting for the right moment.”

The Emperor listened intently. Seeing Puyang pause, he asked, “And then?”

Puyang smiled. “Afterward, whenever I discussed court politics with her, she would be extremely interested. But whenever I mentioned recommending her for an official post, she would always decline with a smile.”

Refusing once or twice could be modesty, but three or five times was neither humility nor posturing.

The Emperor thought for a moment. A palace attendant presented the fish food. Puyang took it, leaned against the railing, and scattered it into the pool. In an instant, countless fish gathered, fighting for the food.

The Emperor seemed to have figured it out. He sighed, “A pity. But no matter. As long as he is in your residence, I have nothing to worry about.” If any advice was needed, it was very convenient to summon the person from the Princess’s Residence to the palace.

The fish food in the pool was all eaten. The fish lingered for a while, then dispersed. Puyang knew she had persuaded His Majesty. Setting aside Sir Wei’s thoughts, from her own standpoint, she was also unwilling for Sir Wei to step into the court.

A person of world-ordering talent who was also indifferent to fame and fortune, who viewed power and wealth as nothing—her words, in the Emperor’s eyes, were often impartial. He was more willing to listen to her than to the ministers in the court. She was very suitable for giving a push at certain critical moments.

“There is one more matter. It is the strategy Sir Wei presented.” As the Emperor’s voice fell, he scattered another handful of fish food into the pool, drawing back the fish that had just dispersed.

Puyang took the handkerchief offered by a palace attendant to wipe her hands and said respectfully, “Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”

“On this matter, I already have some ideas. The rest will require you to share my burdens.”

“To be able to share Father’s burdens is the best thing possible. Father, please just say the word,” Puyang said with a beaming smile, looking delighted.

The Emperor could not help but relax. But as soon as he thought of this matter, he looked troubled again. “This matter is not easy. What Sir Wei said, about turning resistance into a driving force, means we must borrow the strength of the great families. As for how to make the great families genuinely and sincerely do this, I have also come up with a plan.”

After speaking, he looked at Puyang. Puyang just smiled, her eyes full of understanding.

The Emperor smiled and shook his head. “It seems you’ve thought of it too. This matter must start with your several older brothers. With them taking the lead, the great families will likely not refuse.”

Not only would they not refuse, they might even compete for merit.

With the princes vying against each other, the great families were all straining to push their supported prince onto the throne. Gaining the Emperor’s favor for their prince was an extremely important matter.

Puyang curtsied. “This matter, leave it to your daughter to handle.”

As expected, Seventh Lady was the most considerate. The Emperor sighed with emotion inwardly and secretly decided that if this matter succeeded, he would reward Puyang generously.

Having finished with official business, the Emperor was now in the mood to feed the fish. He started chatting with Puyang again, still about Wei Xiu. The Emperor had met countless people in his life, but someone like Wei Xiu was a first. He thought back to yesterday and suddenly felt, “That Sir Wei seems somewhat familiar. He looks like someone.”

Deep in his memory, there seemed to be a person who bore a slight resemblance to Wei Xiu.

Author’s Notes:

Emperor: “That Sir Wei seems somewhat familiar. He looks like someone.”

Wei Xiu: “Shouldn’t I look like a person? (￢_￢)”

The one who wants no money, no official post, just to guide the world and realize their ambitions, is talking about Dao Yan.